Daily Times

Why are the supporters and voters of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) chanting the slogans of ‘Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif? What makes them think that despite the Supreme Court’s verdict disqualifying him, their leader is still the legitimate prime minister of the country? It’s not just about the sentiments of the PML-N voters, various political parties have also shown their reservations on the verdict. The decision of the honourable judges is to be respected and implemented.

And credit must be given to the government that it showed remarkable restraint on the historic judgement. However, some decisions lacking public support often result in review and re-examination even after considerable period of time. For example, the Supreme Court verdict regarding Bhutto’s execution was regretted by (late) Justice Nasim Hasan Shah who himself was a member of the honourable bench responsible for the judgement.

The Nawaz rally for gaining and gauging public support and the overwhelming majority of the people marching alongside him is a clear sign that people of Pakistan have a great deal of respect for Pakistan Muslim League-N and especially Nawaz Sharif. PML-N may go to the masses for gaining and reaffirming people’s support for Nawaz Sharif but it is a fact that in the past four years, they could not maintain effective and firm connection with the people.

Imran Khan has to realise that disqualification of Nawaz is not in the larger interest of the political landscape of Pakistan and the parliamentary system. If this trend continues, it would weaken the foundations of Pakistan’s political institutions and Imran Khan himself might end up becoming a victim to the disqualification-mantra

The political situation after Nawaz’s political activities is becoming increasingly in favour of the PML-N. Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani’s statement claiming that Nawaz’s ouster was pre-planned is among the developments that served to further increase Nawaz’s support.

If the people of Pakistan reject Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N in the 2018 general elections, only then it can be claimed that he has been defeated. Nawaz’s basic demand that civilian supremacy should be upheld and respected is neither wrong nor unconstitutional. However, the tactics he has been using to emphasise on the same is debatable. If political parties including PTI and PPP had rejected military intervention in 1999 just like the Turkish people and political parties did in July 2016, then perhaps this day would never have come upon Pakistan.

Imran Khan has to realise that disqualification of Nawaz is not in the larger interest of the political landscape of Pakistan and the parliamentary system. If this trends continues, it would weaken the foundations of political institutions and Imran Khan might as well end up becoming a victim of this disqualification-mantra in the near future. It is speculated that there might be some people within the PTI, who are anticipating Imran Khan’s disqualification under articles 62 and 63 of the constitution over allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by one of his party member, Ayesha Gulalai.

Since its independence in 1947, Pakistan has been in a constant state of political destabilisation and turmoil — and as a consequence, the nation has paid a lot. Now is the time for our political parties and the pillars of the state to decide if they want to play their role while remaining in the framework of the constitution or remain reluctant to give people and the state their due rights.

The writer can be reached at mmab11@gmail.com

Published in Daily Times, January 10^th 2018.