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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Should Ch. Nisar & Aitzaz Ahsan join PTI?

Yasser Awan |

The reasons why Javed Hashmi left PTI (Pakistan Tehreeke Insaf) are still unknown. After joining PTI, Mr. Hashmi said that while being in PML-N, he considered himself being wasted. One may not doubt the sincerity of Javed Hashmi with PTI as well as with PML-N. He could have joined the government under the umbrella of General Pervez Musharraf, while Nawaz Sharif and his entire family were in exile.

He stood with PML-N during hard times for the party. However, it would be interesting to investigate why Javed Hashmi left PML-N while the party was in power in Punjab and was in coalition with PPP (Pakistani People’s Party) in the center (or rather a friendly opposition to Zardari led government). This shows his sincerity with PTI at that time.

The respect of both institutions will be deteriorated in the eyes of silent majority. And interestingly, this silent majority is no more silent now

Before and after Javed Hashmi, many notable politicians have joined and left PTI. The current speaker of National Assembly is one example. There is a talk of greater dialogue nowadays. And this ‘greater dialogue’ term is created by PML-N after the ouster of their party leader and ex-Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif by Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Read more: Solo flight: PTI going to court against PML-N’s “illegal Act”

It is questionable in the meanwhile, that why the idea of greater dialogue of balance of power between the military and the politicians wasn’t floated by PML-N before Nawaz Sharif was convicted by Supreme Court. Why this concept of greater dialogue can’t be taken to another level; that is removing all the top leadership of main political parties and handing the party over to new leadership.

After the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif, the thing which has been very much talked about is that sooner or later Imran Khan may also be disqualified by the judiciary due to pending cases against him. Who will be party head in the absence of Imran Khan after he is disqualified?

The image of the establishment is also at stake. Both the judiciary and the establishment have had the tendency of getting tired early between their battles with the politicians

A few weeks ago, a bill was passed by the Senate of Pakistan allowing a disqualified person to remain the head of any political party. Interestingly, the bill was passed and the role PPP and PTI played was very mysterious.

The bill was passed by a majority of just one vote which could not have been possible in Senate as PPP has a majority there. In addition to that, a Senator belonging to PTI Nouman Wazeer was absent during the polling for the bill. Had he been present, the bill would not have been passed.

Read more: Down & dirty: Battle between PML-N & PTI for 2018 elections

NA-120 results have shown that PPP has lost ground in Punjab. Persons like Qamar Zaman Qaira and Aitzaz Ahsan are acceptable faces of PPP and people like to listen to the logics given by them.

Naeem Bukhari told the anchor that Imran Khan is changing. He takes advice now. In his typical style, Naeem Bukhari said that in life every one changes. Nothing is permanent than change

They must have an eye on the position their party has reached in Punjab. Ch. Nisar of PML-N has made public his reservations over the leadership of Maryam Nawaz after the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif. Both Aitzaz Ahsan and Ch. Nisar can keep working on the same salary in their respective parties.

Isn’t this an irony which the democracy in Pakistan is facing, that despite the presence of experienced Ch.Nisar in PML-N, the leadership of the party is transferred to Maryam Nawaz as if the party was a family asset. The same analogy is applicable on Aitzaz Ahsan and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. If at any stage, both Aitzaz and Ch. Nisar and other senior financially clean leadership in PPP and PML-N start thinking of joining a new party, what options they are left with?

Read more: PTI vs PML-N : Round two to kick-off soon.

After the departure of Javed Hashmi from PTI, both the leaders must be thinking that what factors must have been responsible for Hashmi’s departure from PTI? Is it the stubborn nature of Imran Khan or the attitude he has for many years that he listens less? Is it the attitude of Imran Khan which is refraining both Aitzaz and Ch. Nisar from joining PTI?

If at any stage, both Aitezaz and Ch. Nisar and other senior financially clean leadership in PPP and PML-N start thinking to join the new party, what options they are left with?

In a recent interview with a private channel, Naeem Bukhari has testified that Imran Khan has started listening. He now listens more than he talks. Naeem Bukhari told the anchor that Imran Khan is changing. He takes advice now. In his typical style, Naeem Bukhari said that in life every one changes. Nothing is permanent than change.

Let’s take it as a testimony of Naeem Bukhari for the changing character of Imran Khan. If the personality and the stubbornness of Imran Khan is the hindrance for both Aitzaz and Ch. Nisar in joining PTI, then they must join PTI since Khan has changed.

But what if Imran Khan is disqualified after the court decision against him, and the recently passed election reform bill is struck down while it is presented again in the Senate after coming back from National Assembly, who will be heading PTI as chairman of the party?

Read more: Legal skirmishes between PTI & PML-N government continue

A Senator belonging to PTI Nouman Wazeer was reported to be absent during the polling for the bill. Had he been present, the bill would not have been passed

The political history of Pakistan has reached an interesting stage. Now, as PML-N blames the military establishment for conspiring to oust of Nawaz Sharif and this argument is accepted as a truth, what choices the establishment will have after the elimination of the Sharif family? Will the esteem and the reputation of the establishment allow it to strike a deal with Mr. Asif Ali Zardari’s PPP and bring him in power? Won’t this damage the stature of the establishment?

The image of the establishment is also at stake. Both the judiciary and the establishment have had the tendency of getting tired early in their battles with the politicians. What if the establishment has decided that they won’t leave it in middle this time? What if the establishment has decided to fix both the Sharif and Zardari and to create space for some cleaner political class?

It is questionable in the meanwhile that why the idea of greater dialogue of balance of power between the military and the politicians wasn’t floated by PML-N before Nawaz Sharif

If Imran Khan is disqualified and is unable to lead his party, will the youth of PTI accept Shah Mehmood Qureshi as their leader? Won’t there be a fight of succession? Will Shah Mehmood Qureshi allow Ghulam Sarwar (former Governor Punjab, who resigned from the Governorship and joined PTI) to lead PTI? If both Ch.Nisar and Aitzaz join PTI, won’t it be easy for PTI to decide the fights of successions?

Read more: Nawaz Sharif Corruption Trial: Should there be a live transmission from…

Interesting times are coming in Pakistani politics in near future. But during these times, the nerves of both the military establishment and the judiciary will be tested. If they have decided to clean the country from the clutches of the mafias that have been running the country, it is hoped that they won’t leave this job half done, because by doing so, the respect of both institutions will be deteriorated in the eyes of silent majority. And interestingly, this silent majority is no more silent now. The silent majority has now the social media, Facebook, and Twitter.

Yasser Awan is working in an organization for children’s vaccination. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and one in Sociology and has interest in international and domestic politics. He tweets at @Yaaser_awan. The views expressed here are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect GVS editorial policy.