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Thursday, March 14, 2024

Brinkmanship or miscalculated decision?

Bushra Zafar |

Nawaz Sharif and his political party are fighting for survival. The decision of accountability court has hit him on his soft belly. For most of the powerful lobbies, he is not less than a persona non grata. Many of his close aides have deserted him and probably many more are waiting on the perch for their next flight as the whistle blows.

At this time of stress, he is without the emotional support of Kalsoom Nawaz, who has always stood by him as an iron lady. Disregard to the merits of the judgment, Nawaz sharif and his entire family have been convicted.

Not long ago, he was the leader of most powerful political party of Pakistan. The bastion of his politics was Punjab and the  “bourgeois class” offered him a powerful constituency. However the Panama leaks changed the entire scenario as his power base slipped off in a manner similar to quick sand, that led him he vent venom against establishment forces. He repudiated the judicial court and raised slogans for court of people.

The brinkmanship or genuine aggression has already made PML-N leadership to pay and the further streak will further lacerate the wound. The decision to return is the demand of the time but using the occasion for institutional confrontation can be catastrophic.

The rhetoric of Maryam not only browbeat political forces but also made the rift between establishment forces and NS irrevocable. The belligerency of judicial system and frontal attack from PTI targeting allegedly ill begotten assets stacked outside Pakistan has added to misery. Apparently, the narrative for the supremacy of democratic institution has initially fared well but the electoral process in Pakistan is a complex web of multiple factors.

Though the demand of better public service delivery has become audible yet the “bradari “system and the influence of powerful institutions still holds their sway on final verdict of the election.  Media houses of Pakistan are instrumental to shaping the national political outlook but the freedom is clipped after a certain point on the plea of national interest. Mian Nawaz Sharif tried to be idealogical but his stance albeit justified, seems out of steam.

Read more: Nawaz Sharif can destroy country for personal interest, claims Imran

In 2008 the democratic system was revived after long hiatus and the evolution of a decade has helped two democratic governments to complete their term. The evolutionary process does not need the flavor of revolutionary zeal. The political parties of Pakistan operate on the principle of the zero-sum game. The collapse of one becomes an opportunity of other political players.

The dream of an omnipotent democracy will only be realized once all political parties act in unison to edge out the intrusion of other pressure groups. Main Nawaz sharif has announced his return and the rally led by Capt. Safdar followed by his arrest has set the theme for future episode. It seems the purpose of return is to enlist the support of voters in the forthcoming election by politically vindicating him through his arrest.

At this time of stress, he is without the emotional support of Kalsoom Nawaz, who has always stood by him as an iron lady. Disregard to the merits of the judgment, Nawaz sharif and his entire family have been convicted.

It is going to be a big blind bet. The political reaction of lahorite has always been a conundrum since times immemorial. Mian Nawaz Sharif, at present is not the choice of movers and shakers; the people of Punjab, are aware of this fact. Ideological, PML-N constituency is apparently intact but bringing him on mall road still remains a puzzle.

Read more: NAB decides to file new corruption reference of Rs. 9 billion…

The quizzical situation for PML-N requires pragmatic steps. The establishment can still be cooed and wooed through mediation and promises. The brinkmanship or genuine aggression has already made PML-N leadership to pay and the further streak will further lacerate the wound. The decision to return is the demand of the time but using the occasion for institutional confrontation can be catastrophic.

Bushara Zafar is a Lahore based teacher and a social activist. She can be reached at zbushi@hotmail.com. The views expressed in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.