NAWAZ SHARIF SAYS OUSTER A JOKE
ISLAMABAD: Former premier Nawaz Sharif has been able to provewithhishomecomingrally that his PML-N party remains a popular force in the Punjab, the political heartland of Pakistan, despiteapoorturnoutofsupporters in some parts.
At every stop he made, Sharif challengedthejudgmenthanded down by the judiciary to disqualify him for being “dishonest” in declaring his assets and argued that his ouster had more to do with going against the powerful establishment and less with corruption or rule of law.
Indirectly,Sharifhasattacked the military high command, which he suspects of having a hand in his ouster. In his speechesSharifhastargetedmilitarydictatorsandtheirroleinthe subversion of democracy.
This has made the military uncomfortable.Passingthrough JhelumandKharian,fromwhere alargepercentageofsoldiersand officers of the Pakistan Army hail, the former prime minister was at his most bitter.
It is after a long time that an electedleaderhastakenoneither the judiciary or the military in this manner. Sadly, as Sharif leads the charge, other parties haveplayeditsafebyquestioning the basis of Sharif’s speeches.
Political analysts say Sharif is setting the agenda for the next generalelection.Theformerpremierseemsto be working on rallying his supporters to challenge both the judiciary and indirectly themilitaryhighcommand.This is atallorder andinthepast,Sharif has failed to bring the army under his control.
ThemessageSharifisgivingis thatthishas boiled downto a tusslebetweendemocracyanddictatorship – that elected governmentsmustberemovedthrough elections and not by the military or through judicial coups.
TheonlyprobleminthisstrategyisSharifhimself.His family’s reputationhasbeentarnishedby the Panama Papers scandal and hoping for the masses to support a democratically elected, albeit corrupt, politician against the allpowerful military and judiciary seems a far cry at this stage.
But it is the response he gets from the man on the street over the next few days which will determine what the mood of the people is and what can be expected in the polls next year.