Daily Times

Mian Muhammad Sharif (late) wouldn’t have thought in his wildest dreams that his son whom he always called ‘bhola’ (innocent) would become Pakistan’s PM thrice. The ladder used by him to bring his son in the political arena was provided by the then establishment. Unaware of street politics and gross root level political dynamics, Mian Nawaz Sharif started his political journey in 1981 as the provincial finance minister and never saw a turmoil until he was ousted by the then establishment in 1999 during his second tenure as PM. The genuine political struggle lasted few months and Mian Sahib opted for an exile. His third tenure as Prime Minister started in 2013 till ouster in July 2017 through a verdict of the apex court disqualifying him.

He now believes that it was a collaboration of judiciary and establishment which resulted in his disqualification and has decided to launch a struggle against both the institutions as being witnessed by the nation and international community. Another option with Mian Nawaz Sharif was to be bold, risky and may be brilliant. Dissolve the assembly immediately, announce elections in 90 days and start his ‘Road March’ to each part of the country till the day of election. 90 Days in ‘container’ with extensive public appearance on all forums based on such conceptual parameters which address the real issue rather than self-oriented, confrontational or defiant approach against the major state institutions. Vote bank of PML-N is dropping by the day.

Sharif’s latest political strategy revolves around exploiting existing vulnerabilities while creating opportunities to criticise the institutions. It appears that he will continue extensive public contact dovetailed with unregulated publicly-voiced criticism and maligning through a combination of covert and overt approach till at least the Senate elections.

This strategy is in negation of three realities. First, Panama Leaks was not created as a part of any conspiracy against the Sharif family but the matter was uncovered internationally. Secondly, disqualification verdict by Supreme Court due to dishonesty manifested by Nawaz Sharif through acts of willful hiding, forgery and fooling attempts is based on authentic documentary evidence leading to unbiased, un-managed and uninfluenced judgement. Third and most crucial reality is that judicial activism has been able to give the system the personalities who cannot be managed or influenced. Is this blatant negation of three realities by design? Or could it be by default even based on faulty comprehension? Nawaz Sharif was not able to read completely detailed decision by the honourable court.

With 18 years of experience in the power corridors, Nawaz Sharif’s wrongful comprehension of institutional dynamics was the real error and not his selection of Pervez Musharaf as the COAS

Visionary leaders are born after centuries. For all the rest, including Mian Nawaz Sharif, it is rightful comprehension and sound judgement validated on experience matrix which has proved to be recipe behind success of political leaders in last one century all over the world.  A judgmental error which is a result of faulty or incomplete comprehension will lead to faulty decision. Mian Sahib’s 37 years long political career reflects repeated absence of all three, especially when it comes to institutions like judiciary and establishment. With 18 years of experience in political cum power corridors, Nawaz Sharif’s wrongful comprehension of institutional dynamics was the real error and not the selection of Pervez Musharraf as COAS. Methodology adopted in execution of constitutional powers for his removal also fall in domain of faulty judgment of institutional reaction based on ‘the then’ environment.

After 33 years of accumulative experience and exposure, in 2013, while nominating a predecessor of General Kiyani, still his focus was on personality but real error was taking the institution for granted based on quite ceremonial conduct of General Raheel Sharif thus taking a solo and premature flights on vital and sensitive issues. Ironically, having spent three tense and uneasy years with General Raheel Sharif, he was again looking for the ‘right man’.

Mian Sahib now expected that establishment led by General Qamar Bajwa would remain meek and inert on ‘Dawn Leak’ with zero tolerance from political masters as manifested after ‘tweet episode’. Once it came to personal issue like Panama Leaks, Nawaz Sharif’s expectations were of ‘underplay’ where institution should manage things in his favour which was another error based on faulty comprehension of institutional working and decision making process. Mian Nawaz Sharif got three chances to appoint the COAS during over 8 years as PM in his political career and every time he focused on personality and never tried to comprehend institutional dynamics and ground realities.

PML-N as a party has done some hard work in last 9 years in Punjab. Therefore, it should not provide a chance or lifeline to leaders like Asif Ali Zardari, who are dying their political death by virtue of their own deeds. More so an aggressive, rigid and unsound approach may lead to such political alliances even in Karachi, which may not be in the overall interest of democracy and may weaken the democratic institutions instead of consolidating them. Despite shortfalls of political elite, political institution bin Pakistan are slowly but surely grasping their rightful shape and place. The environment demand progressive and sure footed institutional development and desired acumen of political elite where establishment voluntarily comes under their folds with least friction while time frame depends on skill, maturity and quality of political elite in foreseeable future.

The PML-N should respect Supreme Court of Pakistan if not the ‘establishment’, and let history be the judge of right or wrong, fair or unfair and influenced or biased. Do not dent the growth of political system which is at consolidation stage. Do not commit yet another comprehension and judgmental error. Nawaz Sharif should try and comprehend things better, and it would lead to a correct judgement based on accurate application of 37 years of experience.

The writer is a PhD scholar with diverse experience and international exposure

Published in Daily Times, December 5^th 2017.