Fool’s paradise
We hear the Maulana is “deeply disappointed” with his opposition colleagues because they are unwilling to stand up and fight the current dispensation. In fact, a fly on the wall of the Maulana’s hujra says he is privately very critical of The Man of Steel’s Talented Bro’s “illness” and Hubby’s request for transfer to hospital from Adiala Jail. He says the “lollipops” (assurances that The Great Khan’s opponents will be back in the driving seat après demonstrated failure of governance) are just that, and that leaders of the opposition are living in a fool’s paradise.
Quiet solidarity
We hear the officials who tend to The Man of Steel in his state of incarceration and those who question him for the inquisition, display a quiet solidarity with him. One such returned to his hometown in rural Punjab and was immediately swamped by anxious local people. “How is he?” they demanded to know, “how are his spirits?” “how are they treating him?” and so on. The official confessed that when he told people that The Man was in good spirits, their mood lifted. He also said that their belligerence towards him came down a tad.
Out of favour
There are some conspicuous members of The Great Khan’s horde who are currently out of favour but the problem is that internecine wars have crippled the process of replacement. There are so many cabals at cross purposes with each other, and lobbying The Khan for their favourites, that the bitching continues unabated but nothing can be done about it.