Now that all the drama about Nawaz Sharif’s treatment abroad is over and he’s finally left – for four weeks, apparently – popular debate has sadly, though quite expectedly, turned to whether the government played some sort of master stroke or, to the contrary, the judiciary left the executive a little red faced. PTI supporters see the events of the last few weeks as something of a win. The government kept the pressure, went the extra mile to milk some sort of guarantee out of Nawaz, and then bowed to the court’s decision. That way they can let everybody blame the judges if Nawaz doesn’t return and, in the worst case scenario, they can no longer be blamed if something bad should happen to the three time former prime minister. The pro-opposition crowed, on the other hand, see the verdict as a clear loss for PTI, especially the prime minister. They did all they could, they’re saying, yet not only could they not squeeze any money from Nawaz, they could not keep him lock-up either. Then there’s the customary praise for the judiciary – a rarity considering PML-N’s recent past – for not allowing the government to commit a grave miscarriage of justice. Now if Nawaz returns they’ll pile yet more laurels on him, and if he doesn’t it will be because the doctor said so. A unique moment, then, where two opposing camps are celebrating victory, of sorts, out of a single court verdict. After plain, cold analysis, though, it is pretty clear that the government did not get what it wanted at the end of the day. Many cabinet members were a little too vocal about their desire to keep Nawaz from travelling. Perhaps they were voicing genuine sentiments or maybe, as sections of the press have been saying, they wanted to sound just like the prime minister sounded not too long ago. Now, with Nawaz off the hook at least for the time being, they are left a little embarrassed as well. And so this debate will go for another four weeks, when Nawaz is due back; and depending on what happens then it will take a new turn. Sadly that is what popular politics has been reduced to. The people are still no nearer to the government machinery – government as well as opposition in the House – turning to their (people’s) legitimate needs for a change. Hopes were raised when Imran rose to PM, making all sorts of promises about changing the usual style of governance, etc, and making laws in favour of the common man. Sadly that promise too, just like most other PTI promises, has yet to see the light of day. Hopefully soon enough the country’s senior most politicians will realise that their prime responsibility is not defeating and humiliating each other, but serving the people and the country. *