News Analysis |
In an interesting development, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has reportedly decided to give the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) a “tough time” if the party’s supreme leader Nawaz Sharif is sent to jail in Al-Azizia and Flagship references. It was decided in a meeting headed by the ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and party president Mr. Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday.
It was also added that in the absence of Nawaz and Shahbaz, the party would be run by an advisory board, comprising senior lawmakers of the main opposition party. It has been said that the PML-N supreme leader would select the lawmakers for the committee by Friday (today). It is likely to include senior leaders of the party like Ahsan Iqbal and Rana Sana Ullah who enjoy very close terms with Mr. Sharif.
Nawaz Sharif is accused of possessing assets beyond known sources and he was also unable to furnish any money trail before the court.
It was also reportedly agreed that the PML-N leadership will approach other like-minded political parties to devise a collective strategy to give a tough time to the PTI’s government. It is expected that the party will approach JUI-F and JI apart from ANP and other smaller parties.
It is speculated that currently PPP and PML-N are not at good terms since Mr. Zardari did not help out Mr. Sharif when he was imprisoned. Hence, Mr. Zardari who fears the same treatment now is not expecting any good-will gesture by the embattled Nawaz.
Khursheed Ahmed Shah, a senior leader of Pakistan Peoples’ party met Shahbaz Sharif yesterday in Islamabad (Thursday) and afterward talking to media reporters said that a meeting between Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif in near future could not be ruled out. If both leaders would be available in Islamabad, the meeting could take place, said Mr. Shah.
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Not only that, but he also hinted on launching a joint protest movement against the government. No wonder, PM Imran Khan had said that when accountability would start, the government would face the pressure of corrupts in the shape of joint opposition.
According to details, an accountability court on Wednesday reserved its verdict and said that it will be announced on Monday. Nawaz Sharif is accused of possessing assets beyond known sources and he was also unable to furnish any money trail before the court.
It was also reportedly agreed that the PML-N leadership will approach other like-minded political parties to devise a collective strategy to give a tough time to the PTI’s government.
Political commentators in Pakistan believe that the current state of the party (PML-N) reflects that itis not expecting a decision in its favor by the court on Monday, it is being said. Since the ousted PM was unable to give any satisfactory answer to the apex court, JIT, and accountability court, therefore it is likely that he will be jailed once again.
Moreover, the PML-N’s decision to make a committee to run its affairs and to give tough time to the government also demonstrates that it is ready to expect a decision which may lead to the imprisonment of Mr. Sharif once again. As a matter of fact, Prime Minister Imran Khan has repeatedly said that he will never compromise on rule of law and there will be zero tolerance for those involved in corruption and misuse of authority.
Read more: Al-Azizia corruption reference: Is Nawaz going to jail again?
He has also maintained that his government is ready to pay whatever price is needed to ensure accountability across the country. Therefore, PML-N’s threat to the PTI’s government of staging a strict opposition may not work.