Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Senior PML-N leader and probably the cleanest man in the party, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, has not proved to be a shrewd political strategist after all.

Ever since the disqualification of his party chief, Nisar has behaved like a cow separated from its herd, or what is called a ‘gawachi gaan’ in Punjabi.

His biggest mistake was to separate himself from the party apparatus when he was needed the most and could have asserted himself.

He was not required to raise slogans or march behind Nawaz Sharif in protest over the SC decision, and he rightly avoided these actions. No leader or party should stand behind a chief who has been accused of a criminal offense by the country’s highest court.

But pulling himself away from his responsibilities as a party leader, a minister and an experienced hand has been a misjudgement on Nisar’s part. He should have stayed in the government, performed his duty to the state, contributed his two cents and tried to keep the party united by offering advice and leadership and all the while curbing his ego, if that was an issue.

When the cabinet was dissolved, Nisar had been caught in two minds. He had indicated that he would not be a minister even before the SC verdict was announced. Probably he had an inkling of what was coming.

When Sharif was disqualified, the party was in a state of shock and there were few stalwarts who could come forward to openly tell him that he should step aside and pursue his legal options while somebody else could in his own right genuinely continue leading the party and the government.

Nisar could have taken up that role as a leader but he could not gather the courage to claim the spot he rightly deserved. He should have tried regardless of the outcome of his attempts. Instead he backed off and went into seclusion, leaving the field open for others.

If Nisar had stepped up his efforts, he would have been backed by Shahbaz Sharif and many others. Some would argue that such a strategy would have meant a betrayal and a revolt against Nawaz Sharif but once he stood disqualified and faced an accountability trial it was up to the party and family elders to impress upon him that he was not larger than the party or the country’s democratic system.

No one could dare say so and that is the major drawback of our political system as those who sit on top behave like kings and emperors with no checks on their authority and treat their members and supporters as fiefs.

Though the PML-N may have come close to splitting up, it was quite likely that saner view would have ultimately prevailed realising the consequences of a split. Nisar should have been a part of the new set up and waited for his day to claim leadership.

Nawaz Sharif has an overwhelming influence on most other senior leaders of the party.

Though Nisar’s 24 days of anonymity raised a lot of speculations and conspiracy theories, when he finally emerged and spoke, he had nothing to say as it was too late for any initiative. He had missed the train and his stature was not elevated.

He looked like a man lost in the forest, unable to decide where to go. He kept silent saying the party would be damaged, but by not speaking he has hurt the party more. The pro-Nawaz group now controls the party remotely from Raiwind, perhaps from London later if the leader and his family proceed abroad.

Nisar may claim that he has not left the party but what good is his seniority and his presence when no one listens to him, no one calls him and he talks to no one?

If he is waiting for the apple to drop in his lap automatically, he may be daydreaming because, as of now, he is not standing under any apple tree.

The only apple he could look forward to was the next Interim Prime Minister or head of a possible national government, if it was formed.

Published in Daily Times, August 22^nd 2017.