ANJUM IBRAHIM

Shahbaz’s clothes and his hat

“So the next five years would see the PML-N go after the Zardari corruption?”

“That’s what the man said.”

“And the man would be none other than the Lion of Punjab?”

“Hey, do you want the brothers to fight? The Lion of Punjab is the older brother Nawaz Sharif.”

“So what does that make Shahbaz Sharif? A cub?”

“The cub is Maryam Nawaz.”

“So then what? He ain’t no Lioness – I mean the hats and the clothes preclude…”

“Don’t be facetious. I like his clothes and his hat. The only Pakistani leader who dresses Western and let’s be honest, he can dress Western, cause he is not fat. I mean every time older brother dresses Western he has to either loosen the trousers or else buy new ones.”

“Being overweight may generate medical problems but if the people of this country vote for him then he has the people’s mandate and…”

“Oh shush, anyway so what is Shahbaz Sharif if not a Lion or a Lion cub or a Lioness?”

“Don’t put me in a difficult position.”

“But you started this conversation, I didn’t so I would have your answer?”

“A leopard, and may I recount what I saw when I went on a South African safari?”

“Go ahead.”

“I saw a leopard make a kill and then along came the lion and took it away from him.”

“A time may come when the leopard may get a few of his children together and not let the lion take away the kill?”

“That day is not yet here but if Shahbaz Sharif does become the next prime minister, and let’s be honest, the powers-that-be have always liked him more than the Lion and the Cub then maybe, just maybe, he will go after Zardari sahib…”

“And he will go after The Goat (Main Main Main Khawaja Asif), certainly Pervez Rashid and…”

“Ha ha ha I reckon even if he is the next prime minister the Lion is going to roar off and on and…”

“And so Pakistan’s political cycle continues.”

“Indeed.”