Nice try, but no cigar
Saudi air always seems to rejuvenate Nawaz. Fasting in the holy land, prayers in Makkah, some good heart-to-heart with the al Saud, and he’s primed for the political brawl just around the corner. And since Imran Khan and the Aug14 tsunami march occupy his thoughts more than most national security issues, it is to that end that he must have focused his thoughts, both in the prayers and discussions. The line from Islamabad now is that Nawaz wants to talk. But since Imran’s demands have been pretty clear – perhaps the only thing clearer being the government’s refusal to entertain them throughout the year – it is not very clear what exactly the prime minister wants to talk about. That is why little ice was broken when the interior minister visited Bani Gala. Imran likes Ch Nisar, even calls him the smartest politician in the ruling party’s elite circle, and their friendship goes back to their cricketing days at Aitchison, but he’s not going to budge on the tsunami. That much has been made clear. The call has been given, and one million will march on the capital this Independence Day.
Nawaz also tried his luck with the Chaudhry brothers before leaving for Saudi Arabia. That he took the initiative, according to reports in the local media, and called Ch Shujaat shows how worried he is about the prospect of Islamabad being paralysed by the opposition. Having experienced two painful and dishonourable exits from office, Nawaz understands the political connotations of such a show better than most people in Islamabad. That is why he is trying a whole host of options – from involving the military to talking to estranged politicians – but little seems to work for him.
In theory, it is best to talk. Imran Khan himself has built a pro-talks reputation. And choking the capital can have pretty harmful spillovers as well. There is a war going on, after all. Terrorists, on the run, have made no secret about ‘blowback’ intentions. And it is not wise to present them with large, soft targets. Then there is also chatter of a degree of indecisiveness within the PTI – who to tag along, how long to protest, etc. There is also the consideration, should push come to shove, that Imran risks losing all the momentum he, and his jiyalas, have gathered over so many months. Perhaps the core committee should push the chairman to exploit the prime minister’s desperation in a more subtle manner. That the government has blinked is a political victory in itself. How Imran proceeds will tell a lot about his political maturity. But so far, there is little chance of Nawaz finding any relief anytime soon.