Nawaz Sharif’s move & political uncertainty
Nawaz Sharif’s move & political uncertainty
Editorial
Editorial

Following the disqualification of Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif as the Prime Minister of Pakistan for life by a Supreme Court Bench, the country is fasting moving towards political uncertainty if not instability.

Following the disqualification of Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif as the Prime Minister of Pakistan for life by a Supreme Court Bench, the country is fasting moving towards political uncertainty if not instability.

It is guessed following Nawaz Sharif’s decision to return to Lahore via G.T. Road presumably to renew his contacts with his political constituents mounting pressure on Pakistani establishment that he is still relevant on the political front.

He was introduced to politics by the Pakistani Establishment in early 1980s and remained their man in toppling down the Benazir Governments in the past.

Now he is bent upon to challenge the Pakistani Establishment trying to use power of the people for a challenging comeback in politics. In the meantime, the Election Commission of Pakistan had instructed the Pakistan Muslim League to elect a new party chief as Nawaz Sharif stood disqualified for life.

Ostensibly, Nawaz Sharif refused to accept the verdict of the Supreme Court and he is planning to challenge the verdict using political and public platform. For this reason, he rejected the suggestion from the security agencies not to travel to Lahore via G.T. Road as he is planning to address the people.

He is planning to spend 48 hours on G.T. Road for which a container had been prepared from where he will address the gatherings at different cities and townships.

At the time of writing these lines, Nawaz Sharif had left the Punjab House in Islamabad for Lahore via G.T. Road. Earlier in the forenoon, a Bench of the Islamabad High Court had rejected a petition suggesting a bar on Nawaz Sharif to travel through the G.T. Road. A score of people gathered at the Punjab House and seen him off warmly. The crowd was chanting slogans in support of Nawaz Sharif.

Nawaz Sharif is expected to mobilize public opinion against the verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualifying him for life. He is supposed to resist his ‘forced expulsion’ from politics for which he blamed a section of the Pakistani Establishment.

Some observers of the political scene believed that he will not create any problem for his own party Governments at the Centre or in the Punjab. Thus any trouble on the part of Nawaz Sharif is ruled out by the observers.

Rather his opponents may try to disrupt the public order creating an embarrassing situation for Nawaz Sharif by gathering the hostile and unruly elements at some points. Some political parties may support the idea to disrupt the public gatherings of Nawaz Sharif on the G.T. Road.

Some others may consider it a threat to the democratic process or it may shelve the plan to hold fresh elections following completion of tenure of the PML Government. Some other elements are of the firm opinion that the country is facing serious threat to its integrity and solidarity as hostile elements are forging alliance against the State of Pakistan.

The threat first disclosed by the former Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan had pointed out gathering storms over Pakistan. On this point, they suggested an interim national Government of more competent people to run the affairs of the State during the crisis period.

The new national Government should delay the scheduled general elections for two years or more so that the situation is stabilized and the impending threat is averted. If Nawaz Sharif tried to create a serious challenge for the Establishment, then he will be leading the country towards a broader national Government to run the affairs of the country.

Presumably, the Pakistani Establishment may face no problems with the Government of Shahid Khaqan whom Nawaz Sharif posted as permanent Prime Minister till the fresh elections. The most unpredictable and impatient man is Imran Khan who may not allow a smooth sailing of the Government even at this critical juncture of Pakistan’s history.

If he asserts himself as the supreme leader of the country, then the country will definitely move towards a national government for year frustrating the dream of both Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan.