No matter which hat he dons in the end, the leadership of the PML-N in Lahore or Punjab, Hamza Shahbaz is already a force to be reckoned with, both within the party and local administration, as a force second to none.
And the younger Sharif seems to be quite clear in his mind about his political priorities. He has already let the dice rolling, at least in the city, not in the mood to observe formality of waiting until his election, and rightly so, as the stakes are much higher this time around for his party and family.
Following the footsteps of his senior family members, Hamza has made his intention loud and clear to turn the historic city into his base, and his main priority right now is to raise a good team with a political know-how of every nook and corner of the city.
Interestingly, through family members and friends, he is already out to woo the party’s old guards shunned by the elder Sharifs since they returned to power for obvious reasons.
Contacts are being made with the likes of Akhtar Rasool, Kamil Ali Agha, Riaz Mahmood, Fazle Haq, all of who switched loyalties in the past to incur the wrath of Nawaz Sharif.
Though nothing concrete has come out of the contacts so far, one could see softening of stance on both sides. “The change of heart is due to the influence of Hamza on the party leadership. He seems more pragmatic than others,” observed a senior PML-N leader privy to the latest developments. As a result of these moves, some PML-Q leaders are double-minded what to do, probably waiting for the right time. There are reports that the PML-N leadership is interested to give party’s provincial leadership to Hamza. But party insiders claim that he is positioning himself for a formal role on the level of Lahore to start with.
Hamza, however, himself is giving conflicting signals to the party and wider audience, as evident from his engagement with the party organisation.
“He is active in Punjab. This is evident from the fact that he is seen everywhere these days, gracing party functions outside Lahore, in Gujrawala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and elsewhere,” observed a PML-N leader, suggesting he was playing on a wider pitch.
With his eyes fixed on the next general election and how to protect Punjab – the PML-N’s mainstay in electoral politics – from the preying eyes of Imran Khan and PPP-PML-Q duo, Hamza is already emerging a new reality in local politics wielding almost a veto right and decisive say in party matters. His influence on the Sharifs with party seems quite strong and durable, as PML-N President Nawaz sees a lot of promise and potential in the youngster, already declaring him as his heir apparent.
Recently, as the party’s most senior leader and real buddy of his father, Chaudhry Nisar, declared war on Malik Riaz of Baharia Town, it was Hamza’s advice that prevailed in the end. Reportedly, he asked his father that there was no need to annoy a person like Riaz for the sake of Nisar. The events later showed that his advice was not taken for granted. Nisar is not happy with the Sharifs ever since expecting the Sharifs to back him in his fight against the property tycoon.
Already, the centre of gravity has shifted to Hamza’s Model Town residence, where he lives with his father Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Hamza has taken over the Lahore administration, and whether it is LDA or the city administration, he seeks to make the city his springboard, claimed senior officials involved with the provincial dispensation. Even Chief Minister Secretariat officials, who could ignore his instruction at their own peril, are lending him full support when it comes to political matters regarding Lahore.
All the spoils, concessions and perks to party workers pass through his office,” claimed a senior official. He is the only one who could even overrule his father’s instructions, they claimed.
As Hamza excels in politics, the other PML-N leaders originally from Lahore have taken a back seat. Even Captain Safdar is no more seen active within the party. With Nawaz’s own sons not much interested in Pakistani politics, as claimed by PML-N circles, Hamza is set to fly higher and higher in the days to come, but much depends upon the future fortunes of his party.
Hamza Shahbaz: The new kid on the block
