A politician would never say never. And not many leaders in the history of Pakistani politics have shown the tendency to shrug thorns in their sight as water under the bridge with the finesse of Nawaz Sharif. In a frenzied attempt to collect as many players in his pocket as possible, stinging accusations, below-the-belt punches and vile retorts have all become water off a duck’s back.
This is election season and it is getting wilder by the minute. While a string of seat adjustment agreements in all corners have raised eyebrows on Senior Sharif’s confidence in his own sway over his voters, some peculiar deals are particularly making rounds on social media with discomforting flashes from the past italicised by the watchful eyes.
News reports of a similar arrangement in Taxila in favour of former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan brought about his caustic tirade against the return of Mr Sharif during his rainy days. It would have taken exceptional self-restraint to sweep the banter under the rug and extend an olive branch to someone who wished for the sight of his coffin finding its way back to Pakistan. But while politics is a game of finding a middle ground, these unseemly compromises would only add to the hurdles of the Sharif camp as it desperately seeks the revival of Lion in the court of the people.
No matter how many historic reliefs have been secured or whatever promises, ensured, surely, the journey to Prime Minister House in Islamabad cannot be covered on the shoulders of mariages de convenance. Galvanising the party to perform well in what already seems to pan out as one of the most intriguing elections is no easy task. But somewhere deep within the layers of wheeling and dealings, a quantifiable campaign could also be considered for a supporting role. Let’s talk about the headways for the business community, reliefs perfected by the finance czars to help the inflation-battered common man and a revolutionising narrative that is predicated on the future. *