"Nawaz Sharif has decreed that no one from his party will meet with the army high command secretly."

"I don't get it, what is the news in your statement?"

"The news is that now Shahbaz Sharif's wings have been clipped by Elder Brother, you know that SS has been known to meet the army chief in the dead of night, and need I add The First Daughter prevailed on daddy to do this."

"Dear, dear me! Do you really think that SS was meeting with the army chief in the past without his brother's knowledge and support? And do you think if the Brothers Sharif decide to do so again SS won't meet with the army chief in the dead of night!"

"But...."

"Did Shabaz Sharif ever during these meetings negotiate with the army chief to install himself as head of the party or the government? Witnesses bear testimony to the fact that the army chiefs in the past, including Musharraf, allowed SS that to return from exile in Saudi Arabia if he dumps his bother but SS refused time and again."

"Some say because he knew he would be unable to hold the party together."

"May be, but don't forget SS like all our politicians knows well that parties are strengthened and weakened by factors beyond their control."

"But Maryam Nawaz...."

"Maryam Nawaz may get angry at Uncle Number 1 for not wagging his tail when she is in the picture as enthusiastically as he does with her dad but..."

"Don't be facetious - don't demean a younger brother's love and respect for his elder sibling..."

"Which is not extendable to the elder brother's progeny?!"

"You really need to stop sitting with Sheikh...."

"Hafeez Sheikh doesn't talk against anyone other than the main decision maker and...and.....wait, that too when the decision maker has been fired...."

"I disagree, he never criticized Musharraf."

"Because they are on the same page, anyway I was referring to Sheikh Rashid who is angered at the opposition for ridiculing him and dismissing him as a loud mouth and..."

"Indeed but he is mentioning details of who met when with the chief of army staff and do you think that is why the ISPR issued its clarification - it appeared on the face of it to support what Sheikh had been saying?"

"Unlike the politicians the army always has Plan B."

"And that's where I think The Khan needs to focus on, Plan B because that cannot logically include The Khan."

"Hey The Khan has yet to figure out what Plan A is."

"When do you think The Khan will figure out Plan A?"

"Anywhere between 15 to 30 years, isn't that the time he said he takes to be successful at any venture!"

"Don't be facetious.'

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020