Daily Times

Disqualified and wounded by country’s apex court, Nawaz Sharif emerged as an ideologue from his GT road rally.

Apparently, after July 28, Nawaz Sharif came to be known as the symbol of resistance in Pakistan against the un-elected institutes. Initially public response was not lofty. Perhaps, people were aware of his birth into politics that how Gen Zia escalated him in the politics.

Subsequently, the tone of Mr Sharif became more aggressive against the de facto powers of the country since its existence, his conclaves became heavily charged. The streets poured out with the supporters. Beside it, the party was divided on the narrative of resistance from the very first day. And it is because the DNA of PMLN has always been the ‘establishment party’. All his old turks were against the GT road rally and the narrative picked up by Nawaz, including his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif (now PMLN President) and Ch Nisar. It was a clear ripples in PMLN between Maryam Nawaz along with under 19 team taking Nawaz line whereas, rest of the party remained in Shahbaz and Ch Nisar camp.

But interestingly, some of the actions taken by Nawaz have led people to wonder about his ideology. Even though, he repeatedly claimed of being ideological. And also confesses slip in memogate scandal against PPP.

Firstly, Nawaz pitch against armed forces reached skies. All of a sudden, Shahbaz Sharif flees to KSA in special charter plan sent by Crown Prince MBS. Following Nawaz also reached Riyadh to meet the Saudi premier. The meeting was held in midnight for 1.5 hour. Details of the meeting were not shared with the public but a speculation was rumored that Nawaz is told to tone down the hostility against armed forces. And just after that meeting, Nawaz camp avoided criticizing Khaki boys in their rallies. And only judiciary became their focal point of target in speeches.

It will not be unfair to profess that the meeting between the PM and CJP is the continuation of PML-N’s back channel diplomacy

Secondly, elder Sharif appointed Shahbaz Sharif as the PMLN President inspite of knowing the truth that the narrative he opted is totally opposes to what Nawaz says. During the entire Panama fiasco, Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza Shahbaz not only negated the narrative of Nawaz and his daughter. Indeed, publicly stated it as the wrong line toed by Mr Nawaz. After which, it was clear that Nawaz Sharif narrative has lost and PMLN will remain the same from where it has been rooted. PMLN and their leadership were predominantly recruited in the engineered politics of dictator Gen Ziaul Haq. That draconian martial law not only ended up the dogma politics. In fact, 1985 nonparty based elections manufactured electable politics in Pakistan which was once cleaned up in 1971 elections. Moreover, it was assumed that good cop and bad cop policy was kicked off and it’s all ideology of necessity. When Nawaz has toed an aggressive style of politics then how can his successor be against his narrative?

Thirdly, the recent meeting between honorable CJP and honorable PM was on the request of PM which completely had backing of Nawaz Sharif, a renowned political commentator reported. In the past we’ve seen then PM YRG met with then CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry. Hence, it’s not unprecedented. But the question is with the timing, as the PM cabinet members facing cases and his party Quaid is under a serious trail in NAB. And expectedly, the meeting dispensed conspiracies amidst one were about the NRO deal.

Obviously, the meeting wouldn’t have the agenda of any NRO but the conspiracy resonated too strong when no press release was issued from PM secretariat. Although SC issued the ‘honorable press release’ but it was the fundamental responsibility of the PM to share the details of the meeting in the parliament. More significantly is that the former PM Nawaz chanting slogan vote ko izaat doo and his PM not bothered to answer the parliament over the meeting with honorable CJP. Elder Sharif criticising courts amidst public and similarly allowing his PM to meet with CJP is a negation of the famous narrative vote ko izat doo.

Significantly, Maryam Nawaz dialogue ruk sako tou ruk loo and Nawaz Sharif statement that these ‘judges are full of bigotry’ and at the same time asking his PM to have the dialogue with honorable CJP is contrasting principles.

Similarly, it will not be unfair to profess that the meeting between PM and CJP is the continuation of the back-channel diplomacy of Noon league. It was later reported in media that PMLN messengers are taking the messages of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz but opposite side has stated that they are helpless in matters sub-judice in courts. Subsequently, ‘Bajwa doctrine’ was also leaked few weeks back and it identified the complete backing of the courts as an institutions. Therefore, armed institutes have publicly announced of not having any influence on the incumbent courts.

Hence, the episode of ideology is based on disqualification. ‘Actions speak louder than words’, and Nawaz is only proving to be ideologue through his words. Moreover, ideological person isn’t cautious about the future consequences. In this discourse, Pakistan has ample of examples from Quaid-e-Azam to Malala Yousufzai.

The writer is an academic. He tweets @muhd_hani

Published in Daily Times, April 9^th 2018.