Pakistan, April 29 -- Zulfikar Ali Bhutto; Begum Nusrat Bhutto; Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, and now, Ishaq Dar. That four political masterminds have, at some, point willingly chosen a seemingly ceremonial and, more importantly, extra-constitutional position of deputy prime minister cannot be a sheer coincidence.

Interestingly in 2012, Mr Elahi's appointment notification had plain-facetdly quoted, "This shall not confer upon him any powers of the prime minister in any manner whatsoever." Similar symbolism can, nevertheless, not be expected to follow suit in the case of someone who enjoys extraordinary influence in the Sharif family. But while the technicalities as to which ministries would report to Mr Dar and how the legislature would addres...