News Analysis |
The chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shahbaz Sharif met Chaudhary Nisar to address the latter’s reservations regarding the party’s narrative. No details have been made public as yet. But sources have confirmed that once again Nisar has made it clear that “I do not agree with Nawaz Sharif’s narrative at all”.
After the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif as the Prime Minister, he decided to establish an anti-establishment and anti-judiciary narrative in order to gain popularity and political sympathy. Some of the top leaders of the party, however, advised Nawaz Sharif not to go against the state institutions. Chaudhary Nisar is one the dissenters who made his stance publically clear in this regard when he said that “My stance is that we should compete with our political opponents, not fight with the institutions”.
Nawaz Sharif’s anti-judiciary Verbal War
The ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made all attempts to present the country’s top court as the enemy of democratic process in Pakistan. Nawaz is using a ‘victim card’ and mobilizing his supporters by maligning the establishment and judiciary in Pakistan. He is of the view that it is the establishment and judiciary in Pakistan that have interrupted the political process for their narrow institutional interests.
Following Nawaz’s footsteps, many of the top PML-N leaders have made derogatory and threatening remarks against the superior court and honorable judges. One of the PML-N leaders Nehal Hashmi, who blasted the court and threatened the judges who were a part of Panamagate bench, was fined and sent into jail for one month in a contempt of court case. Other PML-N firebrand speakers are facing contempt cases and their fate will be decided by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Nisar’s disapproval in this regard helps understanding his political vision and understanding of prevailing sociopolitical discourse. Dynastic politics is no longer an established norm in modern democracies.
Nawaz Sharif,since his disqualification in alleged corruption and for being ‘not honest’ to the parliament, has been asking the court and the nation; “Mujhy Kyun Nikala?”. He, himself, responds to this question in public gatherings, saying he (Nawaz) wanted economic development, civilian supremacy and a strong parliament. This is something, argues Nawaz, not acceptable for extra democratic forces in Pakistan. Therefore, he (Nawaz) has been victimized and ousted by the judiciary.
Nawaz’s daughter Maryam Safdar has also made anti-judiciary speeches to second her father’s narrative. Maryam in her tweets while defending his father blames the judiciary for being biased and a pawn in someone else’s hands.
Read more: Chaudhry Nisar reprimands the Interior Minister for not placing Nawaz Sharif’s…
Chaudhary Nisar’s Views about Maryam
Chaudhary Nisar is known as a senior politician in his party. Sources confirm that it was not possible for Chaudhary to surrender before someone he considers as a ‘child’. After the disqualification there were rumors about Maryam leading the party in years to come, but this was not something appreciated by senior PLM-N leaders. Chaudhary Nisar openly said that he neither minds what ‘children’ says nor he was going to stand behind a ‘child’ (Maryam).
Nisar’s disapproval in this regard helps understanding his political vision and understanding of prevailing sociopolitical discourse. Dynastic politics is no longer an established norm in modern democracies. But this is something missed out by the PML-N leadership who want Sharif family to stay in power no matter what comes out. This makes a family more important than the state and its institutions. For a politician like Chaudhary Nisar it is not something digestible.
Moreover, it is hurtful for Chaudhary Nisar, who has been a loyalist of Sharifs, that his position in the party is weaker than a “child” who has not scarified anything as yet for the party. Nawaz’s undue importance to Maryam is creating rifts within the party and it might help creating an organized group of principled politicians.