"I reckon the literal translation of jis ki lathi oss ki bhaens is whoever wields the whip has the water buffalo."
"What made you think of this Urdu proverb?"
"Mushahid Hussain while referring to the plight of the Kashmiris in India used this expression during the conference in London."
"Mushahid Hussain has lived this proverb - since he joined politics he has owed loyalty to whoever wielded the whip."
"Are you referring to him as the buffalo?"
"Hey stop being facetious."
"But seriously this proverb doesn't apply to Mushahid Hussain - he carefully selects the whip wielder."
"You mean he changes the wielder of the whip as and when he deems it appropriate."
"If the whip wielder is the one who rules than his selection has been wrong...."
"Don't forget he is human, but I reckon he chooses the least cost to himself option with his objective not too ambitious, I mean all he wants is to head a committee which gives him some foreign tours and..."
"In that case he is suited to head a utility company, you know where the least cost option must be supported and..."
"Don't be facetious, anyway speaking of least cost options..."
"I know, I know The Buzz is not the least cost option - protocol for the chief minister continues, sadly The Khan doesn't know about it, and the expense of hair oil by the chief minister's house has sky rocketed and..."
"I wasn't referring to The Buzz."
"OK so Sheikh Rashid is not the least cost option because as a member of the Public Accounts Committee he may derail legislation as the opposition may again not support the setting up of the national assembly standing committees....No you didn't mean him either....What about the man who considers himself as the pioneer in the field of economics, you know the man who considers himself Pakistan economy's Adam - Asad Umer - who has yet to begin to formulate leave alone implement macroeconomic stabilization policies....No not him either, what about..."
"I meant our dentist president Arif Alvi, I like the man, he is down to earth and I thought The Khan should have used him more effectively as head of an important ministry, but I went to Murree on the weekend, at least tried to, and roads were shut as Alvi was scheduled to pay a visit to Murree..."
'So you never got to Murree?"
"Nope so please, please President Alvi take the helicopter next time, it costs very little check with Fawad Chaudhary, and you won't be disrupting the vacationer's plans...."
"In your dreams!"