It is widely accepted that there are no permanent foes and friends in politics, but it
will be premature at this stage to say that establishment will hand over power to
PML-N on terms and conditions to be set by PML-N. Any such thing would only
mean establishment is too weak in today’s times. Nawaz Sharif seems to be
under the impression that if the establishment does not agree with his terms and
conditions, then he will take an anti-establishment stand and this will help him win
/get peoples’ vote to power. Both the Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif give signals of
turning anti-establishment if no action is taken against five individuals being
pointed out by Sharif brothers. The fact of matter is PML-N is split in pro and anti
establishment sections within the party. As and when PML-N has to work with the
establishment, they bring to the fore their soft face in the form of Shahbaz but as
and when the Sharif brothers want to give tough time to the establishment,
Nawaz Sharif and Mariam come to the forefront. May be Sharif brothers think
they can make the establishment agree to their terms and conditions, but ground
realities are not supporting PML-N / Sharif brothers. PML-N’s slogan of “Give
respect to vote” is outdated by now. Right now, there is no slogan left for the party
to raise for getting peoples’ votes in the next elections. What have they to offer to
people? What good can they do for people? Be it the PTI or even PDM
government, they have done their “best” to give people very hard and tough times
in day to day life. No party talks about inflation and PML-N is talking even today
on non-issues. Right now, the entire government infrastructure is under
establishment’s control. Nothing can move in the country without a nod from the
establishment today. The political void left behind by Imran Khan remains unfilled
till day and establishment dominates and dictates everywhere, be it in matters of
economy or foreign policy. In such a backdrop, how can the establishment be
weak enough to accept terms and conditions of Sharif brothers? In order to
weaken the establishment, a fight will have to be waged on every front against
the establishment but no party is prepared to fight against them. Political parties,
instead of fights, want deals with the establishment. But, the establishment very
well understands the chemistry of political parties. The establishment knows very
well how to attract political parties with just one offer of power to them/to political
parties. What kind of protests and fights can we expect from our political class
where politicians take pride in openly declaring that they are the establishment’s
men and are on one page with the establishment? The number of voters does not
matter in our country because there is a lot of manipulation in polls. What can be
the value of a vote if the election system is not transparent? In the times of Imran
Khan Government when crackdowns against PML-N were daily affair, PML-N
leaders supported legislation for extension in the then army chief, Bajwa’s term to
get/to earn soft corner for PML-N leaders, this has also been accepted by PML-N
leader, Rana Sanaullah in one TV show. We all know how much strong ML(N)
activists and leaders are to sustain establishment’s pressures. Right now,
establishment has three options…one is : to accede to PML-N demands and take
action against former army chief, former ISI chief and three judges, second option
before establishment is to bring PPP, Independents and other pro establishment
parties together for forming government in Islamabad and three provinces and
third option is establishment tries Imran Khan project once again together with
other electables. The last option for establishment is it directly takes over control
of the country. It does not look likely that establishment will accede to PML-N’s
demands because establishment has other options. According to sources, Zardari
is meeting Shujaat Hussein (PML-Q) and leaders and also exploring all options
available to him and it is likely that he might also succeed in his mission. The
indications from PML-N meetings in London suggest Nawaz Sharif wants to adopt
hard line but it will only mean political losses for him and his party.
Translated from Urdu, Sindh Express