News Analysis |
Maryam Nawaz, vice president Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, expressed her reservations during multi-parties conference held in Islamabad on Wednesday. The meeting was called by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, to formulate a joint strategy to counter the government and its allegedly anti-poor economic policies.
While addressing the meeting, former first daughter expressed that the public has a lot of expectations from the opposition, and if they don’t present a feasible plan then it will create disappointment among them. Firm decisions should be taken in the APC, she added.
Shahbaz Sharif, President of PML-N and former Chief Minister of Punjab, is said to have another opinion about the ongoing political scenario. The PML-N chief does not want confrontation with the establishment and also hinted at giving time to the incumbent government while playing the role of friendly-opposition in the national assembly if the latter offers some concession. It is important to note that the PML-N leader is out on bail, his elder brother is serving a jail term awarded by an accountability court and their political ally, Asif Ali Zardari and his sister, Faryal Talpur, are also in custody of the NAB.
Maryam’s harsh stance in the APC was reflective of her political insecurity at home and her objective to get her father released as soon as possible.
PML-N head reportedly wants re-conciliation and desires to have working relations with both the establishment and the government. However, Maryam Nawaz is not in line with the policies of the PML-N head. She firmly believes in the politics of confrontation and intends to challenge the status quo. Analysts believe that she is following the instructions of her father who has given her a free hand so that she might do anything to free Nawaz.
Sources also claim that there is a struggle going on within the Sharif family. Maryam wants Shahbaz and Hamza to stay in Punjab and should not take active part in national politics. On the other hand, well-placed sources claim that Hamza and his father are now planning to be a permanent feature of national politics which is a threat to the political career of Maryam.
Read more: Multi-parties conference: Opposition strategize to counter government
Maryam’s harsh stance in the APC was reflective of her political insecurity at home and her objective to get her father released as soon as possible. But it is believed that the joint opposition, except the JUI-F chief, is not in a hurry and does not want direct confrontation with any segment in the existing political power setup.