News Analysis |
Disqualified ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif has declared to transform Sindh, if given the chance in the next general elections of 2018. In a rare two-day visit to Karachi, Nawaz addressed workers where he said he would revamp the infrastructure of the province including its capital, Karachi.
Nawaz compared the progression of Lahore regarding infrastructure development and progress with Karachi. He claimed that Lahore has done much better than Karachi in this regard as Karachi’s development languishes far behind than the progressive Lahore. “I invite people of Karachi to visit Lahore,” he added.
This visit may help in making new alliances and settle seat mechanism issues with small parties in Sindh, but it may not be able to generate enough to severely damage PPP’s vote bank in Sindh.
While commenting on the poverty levels in the province, he said, “Sindh should have been an exceptional province, but it has so much poverty.” Taking credit for improving the Karachi law and order situation drastically, he asserted that there is no comparison between the Karachi of 2013 and Karachi of 2018, as the situation is not the same as it was in 2013.
It was a high profile visit. All the senior leadership accompanied Sharif. Some of the leaders were already present in and went all the way to plane to receive Nawaz. The leaders included Sindh’s Mohammad Zubair, Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah Khan, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo and Abid Sheer Ali.
Read more: Is Nawaz Sharif threatening to become the next Mujibur Rahman?
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Railways Minister Saad Rafique, and former Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid were also present at the occasion and took part in the meeting to discuss the election strategy in Sindh. Nawaz Sharif and his senior leaders are countering Zardari’s advances in Punjab where he looks to transform Pakistan People Party (PPP) fortunes in the Punjab, which seemed non-existent in a majority of the by-elections.
Nawaz is aware of the enormity of the task facing him post disqualification. With both PPP and PTI challenging PML-N in Punjab, Nawaz is hoping to make inroads in Sindh.
Nawaz lamented PPP for its dismal performance in Sindh, where it fails to improve basic problems like the despicable education system, unemployment, and transportation system and fails to adequately provide necessities of life.
Nawaz particularly addressed the lack of opportunities for young people in the province and promised to drastically improve the appalling situation, if given a chance. After reaching Sindh, Nawaz’s senior party started verbal attacks on PPP and particularly hit Zardari for his failed policies in Sindh.
Minister of State for Power Abid Sher Ali has demanded to raid Zardari House to recover former Malir Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Rao Anwar. He praised Nawaz Sharif for his efforts to restore peace within Pakistan’s financial capital.
Read more: Nawaz wants Martial Law: Zardari
Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on his arrival in the city posted a message on Twitter showing his utter disgust having seen the piles of garbage along the sides of the Shahrah-e-Faisal. He condemned PPP’s co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari for destroying Karachi- the city of Pakistan’s founder Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. PPP has abandoned the city to the mercy of criminals, he remarked.
PML-N is trying to devise a counter-strategy, and Khawaja Saad’s rhetoric is focused on containing Zardari’s aggression and countering him by using the same language in Sindh by highlighting the failures of PPP government.
Recently, PPP had collaborated with other opposition parties to support the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri’s demonstration against the government for its alleged involvement in Model Town killings on June 17th, 2014.
Both parties PPP & PML-N have exchanged heated blows recently. While, speaking to media, Zardari unleashed verbal attacks on the incompetency of the government. Zardari is also accused of horse-trading in Punjab for upcoming Senate elections, and PML-N has openly criticized Zardari for foul play.
Read more: Survival Strategy: Nawaz Sharif files Review petitions with the Supreme Court
As Zardari looks to make a comeback in Punjab, PML-N is trying to devise a counter-strategy, and Khawaja Saad’s rhetoric is focused on containing Zardari’s aggression and countering him by using the same language in Sindh by highlighting the failures of PPP government.
Nawaz lamented PPP for its dismal performance in Sindh, where it fails to improve basic problems like the despicable education system, unemployment, and transportation system and fails to adequately provide necessities of life.
Other than his true antics these days where he is on a countrywide spree to abuse/condemn the judiciary openly and gather support against his ousting presenting himself as a victim of allegedly compromised landmark decision to disqualify him, he again claimed to have put Pakistan on track to an exemplary road to development and progression, until his untimely ousting.
In a remarkable statement where he seems to appear paranoid with a 4-year rule of his and fails to acknowledge that his party under his chairmanship continues to govern the country and he is a de facto leader ruling the country as PM Abbasi apparently takes dictation from him on all the issues.
Nawaz is aware of the enormity of the task facing him post disqualification. With both PPP and PTI challenging PML-N in Punjab, Nawaz is hoping to make inroads in Sindh. This visit may help in making new alliances and settle seat mechanism issues with small parties in Sindh, but it may not be able to generate enough to severely damage PPP’s vote bank in Sindh.