Political dynamics
PML-N leaders' attacks on the judiciary have become more severe with time. After showing restraint for months, the Supreme Court finally decided last week to call the PMLN stalwarts to account for their anti-judiciary rhetoric. The court sentenced Senator Nehal Hashmi to one-month jail term together with a Rs 50,000 fine, also disqualifying him from holding any public office for five years. It may be recalled that during the proceedings of the case against Sharif, Nehal Hashmi had crossed all limits when he hurled naked threats against the judges, the court appointed JIT members, as well as their children. While disqualifying, Nehal Hashmi, the court observed: "we have felt satisfied that the contempt committed by the respondent is quite grave, and is one which is substantially detrimental to the administration of justice, besides tending to bring this court and the judges of this court into disrespect and hatred."
Hours after the apex court sentenced Hashmi, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took suo motu notice of "contemptuous speeches" by PML-N leader and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, ordering him to appear to clear his position over the tirade against judiciary. Tallal Chaudhry, who has been bitterly criticising the judiciary in TV shows and media talks, last week went a step further and urged PML-N president to "throw out" PCO judges. Flying off the tangent, he had said: "There was an era when the Kaabah was full of idols. Today, the judiciary, which is the country's highest institution, is also full of PCO [Provisional Constitution Order] idols. Mian Nawaz Sharif, throw them out, throw him [CJP] out of the court . They will not give justice but will continue their injustices".
The next in line is another PML-N firebrand Daniyal Aziz who has also been summoned by the court to explain his scurrilous attacks on the judiciary. According to legal experts, now that the court has taken cognizance of three contempt cases, it would not be surprising if the judges may also decide to go after the brain and motive force behind the contemners - Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz. If this happens, Nawaz Sharif will be in real trouble. It will be a double bind for him, as the ongoing proceedings in the NAB court are also about to reach a conclusion. Nawaz Sharif's strategy to survive the court cases is to increase political pressure on the judiciary. But the strategy has proved counter-productive. On the one hand, he has antagonized the judiciary and on the other he is not on good terms with the army whom he obliquely blames for being behind the apex court which ousted him over the concealment of his overseas assets. At the same time, he has failed to reconcile with the defiant senior members of his divided political party, including his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif who has kept himself aloof from post-disqualification policies of the party high command.
Nawaz Sharif's battle for political survival received a serious blow two weeks ago when an internal revolt toppled his party's government in the politically sensitive province of Balochistan.
Balochistan was the only province besides Punjab where Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (N) was in power. The removal from power of staunch Sharif loyalist Nawab Sanaullah Zehri just weeks before the important mid-term Senate elections has changed the political dynamics of the country.
While the disqualified PM remains defiant, the powers that be have made it abundantly clear that he will not be allowed to return to power. The confrontation is getting messier by the day, with Nawaz Sharif seemingly ready to go to any length to become PM again. In the end, everything will depend upon the outcome of his trial in the anti-corruption court. A conviction will seal his political fate forever.