The PML-N ploy – Independent Pakistan

By Staff Reporter

The debates, the doubts, and the drama over whether the country goes to vote` before the end of this regime’s tenure or not have died down for now.

The PML-N and its allies will not hold early elections. It has been decided in principle, put in black and white, and seems to be set in stone, but who knows.

This debate started after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, citing grave political risks, distanced himself from taking tough decisions concerning the economy.

PM Sharif and party supremo and his elder brother Nawaz Sharif had been posturing since a few days that early election was the best way out of the economic quagmire, which they believe was the handiwork of PTI-led government.

The PML-N senior leadership was noticed marketing this early-polls narrative in public as well on electronic and digital media.

Their leaders were arguing with the TV anchors that early election was the only way to bring things under control as taking tough steps such as withdrawing subsidy from petroleum products and its resultant inflation would lead to a backlash.

The talented daughter Maryam Nawaz was seen singing the same tune in her public rallies. In the middle of her Imran Khan-like speech, she would question the crowd should we carry this economic baggage left by Imran khan? Yes or No?

And the roaring crowd would respond with a deafening NO.

From a No to Yes…what led to the change between posture and action?

Did Sharifs succeed in bagging the guarantees they were aspiring from the mighty establishment?

Was it the pressure from political allies to continue the government?

Or the Sharifs were out of options as former prime minister Imran Khan and his cohorts had started marching towards the federal capital armed with the tools to tackle riot police.

It is no secret, the pressure built by Khan through his massive public rallies and fiery speeches, tarnished establishment’s public image like never before. Therefore, the urgency to go for early elections came from the institution. Sharifs however, played smart this time, though they have quite an experience of being sent back to pavilion by the big boys.

With the IMF talks underway, Sharif in turn used it as leverage. Party’s senior leadership reached a consensus that striking a deal with the IMF and formulating the budget for next fiscal year was challenging with high political cost. Such a cost should reap dividends rather than losses.

Hence, the guarantee that Khan’s long march would be shortened if required gave Sharifs the pluck to take tough steps and decide completing the tenure of assemblies rather than announcing elections.

Moreover, Sharifs’ posturing didn’t correspond with their earlier stances or even the reason of launching a vote of no-confidence against Imran Khan.

Why on earth would they want an early election in the first place without making the most of the Khan’s ouster. If Nawaz Sharif is to return to Pakistan, there can never be a better time. Their cases in accountability courts, believed to be based on political victimisation, can be quashed, paving the way for elder Sharif and his daughter to enter upcoming elections.

But the above was not guaranteed. So the posturing was to manipulate the mighty establishment into agreeing to some terms, primarily supporting the govt in containing Khan’s march and sit-in.

The long march that was cut short by Khan, with no sit -in, followed by the partial increase in petroleum prices fits in with the change in posture and action by the Sharifs.

At least, for now it seems the establishment will let this government function to address the economic issues. Imran Khan, who has given an ultimatum. of six days, seems a bit nuetralised. Evident from the fact that now he is talking about talks not trash but he has tied them elections in June.

For the time being, it looks it is the Khan, who will have to change his posturing and actions, not the Sharifs.