Panama case which is a headache for Nawaz Sharif has clearly drawn a line of demarcation between N-league ministers and party key leaders. Pulling and grabbing between Ishaq Dar and Chaudhury Nisar.
Nisar on party affairs, the decisive role of younger brother CM Shahbaz backed by Nisar have divided N-league on Panama case. In this situation, Nawaz Sharif seems ambiguous in approaching issues and resolving intra-party matters.
Read more: Panama Case: Why German Paper’s disclosure may be extremely damaging for Sharif Family?
Since May 2013, Nawaz Sharif has been facing intra-party conflicts over decision making and party policies. The situation has led PM Nawaz to the brink of confusion and trust-deficit situation. He went to London for open-heart surgery, handing over PM-house responsibilities to Ishaq Dar and Maryam Nawaz showed how much Nawaz Sharif is afraid of a hidden threat from senior party leaders.
Intra-party division
Replacing Sardar Yaqub Nasar, Zulfiqar Khosa, Sabir Shah, Khwaja Saad Rafiq with Sanaullah Zehri, Shahbaz Sharif, Amir Muqam and Chaudhry Nisar have clearly drawn a line of demarcation between party leaders within PML (L) where Nawaz Sharif seems confused and powerless.
Sincere leaders of any party are always considered as sacred and secret capital which can be invested in a time of crisis.
PM Nawaz is greatly surrounded by controversies over party decisions, running the central government and dealing with China and Turkey which is mostly dealt by CM Shahbaz. Ch. Nisar’s pro-Imran khan attitude has furthered added controversies over Panama case. PM Nawaz’s frequent support to his daughter Maryam has further fuelled the situation and aired grievances of the rest of party leaders.
Panama leaks and Central government
Panama leaks realized PM Nawaz Sharif about his wrong steps and decisions at party level which is vivid clear from Nisar’s silence over Panama case. And Khwaja Saad Rafiq’s rigid stance of supporting PM is self-defining in the context of intra-party conflict over Panama case.
Chaudhry Nisar wants to secure troika of cards; Imran’s friendship ties with establishment and status in media in order to maintain his own position in national politics out of PML-N umbrella.
Read more: Pakistani Govt’s War against “Social Media”?
PM Nawaz’s open heart surgery in London on May 31, 2016, and heading over political and governmental affairs to Ishaq Dar and Maryam Nawaz revealed the inside controversies and an environment of mistrust among party key leaders even between two brothers.
Since May 2013, Nawaz Sharif has been facing intra-party conflicts over decision making and party policies. The situation has led PM Nawaz to the brink of confusion and trust-deficit situation.
During Nawaz Sharif’s stay in London, Chaudhry Nisar’s passive participation in meetings and Dar’s decisive role vividly depicted how N-league is gripped by intra-party controversies and opposition?
Ch. Nisar’s all-out support to CM Shahbaz is taking the situation to another side where PM Nawaz and his allied party leaders seem powerless.
Khwaja Saad Rafiq, Sardar Yaqub Nasar and Zulfiqar Khosa, the most senior and sincere party leaders are facing strong opposition both at provincial and central fronts from Nisar-Shahbaz combination where everything seems under their control.
Punjab and Balochistan chapters: side-lined sincere party leaders
No doubt, Pakistan Muslim League (N) is the central and leading party of Pakistan but the unwise and undefined approach of PM Nawaz is taking N-League to face leadership-counter opposition in Balochistan and Punjab for general election 2018.
Any political party that rules the Central government also governs Baluchistan. The politicians in Balochistan are seasonal in the majority; change their party loyalties with coming into power of any party at the federal level. In 2008, PPP ruled Balochistan and now PML-N.
The passiveness of PM Nawaz and CM Nawab Sanaullah Zehri’s decisive role in Balochistan has sidelined the most sincere party leader and central vice president Sardar Yaqoub Khan Nasar who was once considered as Nawaz’s brother. The straightforwardness of Yaqoub Nasar during Musharraf regime and services to sustain N-league position is known to everyone.
Read more: Titanic of Pakistani Politics: PTI & PMLN; Upper Deck & Lower Deck?
In March 2015 senate election, despite a PML-N majority in Balochistan provincial government, Yaqoub Nasar was defeated which showed internal leadership division of N-league and Nawaz Sharif’s position of losing his grip over party discipline?
The politicians in Balochistan are seasonal in the majority; change their party loyalties with coming into power of any party at the federal level.
Ignoring Zulfiqar Khosa mere on ‘Sapna case’ where his son, ex. CM Punjab Dost Khosa was alleged over murder is unjust and contrary to the situation. Countering sincere party leaders who bear the brunt of military regime represent intra-party conflict. Ignoring their sincerities and sacrifices mere on a single issue and personal blunders has divided N-league in Punjab.
The current position of N-League is due to the sincerity of Javed Hashmi along with Sardar Yaqoub Nasar, Zulfiqar Khosa and Khwaja Saad Rafiq who all offered sacrifices during the Musharraf regime.
No doubt, Ch. Nisar, Shahbaz and Khwaja Asif have significant importance and role in strengthening N-League but ignoring other sincere party leaders will clearly divide N-league on Panama leaks case.
Sincere leaders of any party are always considered as sacred and secret capital which can be invested in a time of crisis. Unfortunately, in N-League, the situation is totally contrary to the facts. PM Nawaz needs to encourage and support all sidelined N-League leaders in order to secure party’s position for the general election of 2018.
Abdul Rahim is currently pursuing M. Phil degree with a focus on Talibanization and Imperialist Designs in 21st Century at International Islamic University, Islamabad. He tweets at Rahim_realist and his email is abdul.mseng346@iiu.edu.pk. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Global Village Space’s editorial policy.