Qadri’s show unnerves Sharifs

The recent power show in Lahore by Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran chief Tahirul Qadri and covert messaging by certain quarters to Nawaz Sharif to review his choice for the prime minister’s slot has triggered panic among the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ranks, sources told Pakistan Today on Tuesday.
Sources in the PML-N also said hectic consultations have been started within the party to discuss the objectives of the events unfolding one after the other. They said that the huge show caught the residents of Raiwind Palace by surprise as no intelligence agency reported in this regard.
“Mian Nawaz Sharif is unhappy with the performance of the Punjab government’s intelligence wing, the Special Branch, for its failure to inform the Punjab government about such buildup in the provincial headquarters. Moreover, the covert messages from different sides have compelled Nawaz Sharif and company believe that any long march might jeopardise holding of general elections on time as there are chances that political minnows like the MQM, Difa-e-Pakistan Council or Awami League may join the march to serve the purpose of the powers wanted to derail the electoral process,” said a source, adding that an upset Nawaz has suggested President Asif Zardari to immediately announce a date for general elections. “The PML-N chief has asked the PPP leader to announce any date he wished but a date for holding general elections should be announced to clear air and remove confusion,” he added. The source said that the whispering taking rounds within the party suggested that certain quarters were unhappy over the chances of election win for the PML-N in the upcoming elections.
He said Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah was asked to deliver the message to the Sharifs, adding that Sanaullah was under immense pressure.
“Finally, Sanaullah, under stress, suffered a nervous breakdown and had to go to a psychiatrist who advised him to get relieved and convey the message. So Sanaullah delivered the important message,” the source added.
The N-leaguer said that two things were being clubbed to raise the argument of delaying polls. “It seems that certain quarters don’t want to see Nawaz Sharif as next prime minister. They say that the country’s economic situation is so bad that no political leader can jumpstart the economy without a major cleansing. Secondly, the US wants a military operation in North Waziristan for which they want full support by a civilian government to military. However, the appointment of Nawaz Sharif may jeopardise such an operation as military establishment was unhappy with the posture adopted by Nawaz Sharif regarding the army’s leadership,” the source added.
“So covert messages are being conveyed to the PML-N leadership through different sides suggesting that the party should nominate any leader other than Nawaz Sharif for the slot of the prime minister. This is unacceptable for the party and so efforts are being made to postpone general elections so as a technocratic regime might takeover for at least two years to achieve all these objectives,” the source added.
He said that the PPP leadership was onboard about the situation but they were not as worried as the PML-N. “The PPP leadership has enjoyed rule for five long years so they are not worried. President Zardari may continue with interim setup or he might go for exile if anything unusual happens. This would help him return before polls whenever announced to join the democratic process again,” the source added. PML-N Secretary Information Mushahidullah Khan said the international establishment was involved in the buildup being made by Dr Tahirul Qadri.