Going toe-to-toe with the opposition
Unwilling to accept the opposition’s offer for jointly formulating the TORs, the PMLN leadership is gearing up for a long and grueling fight which would be fought on the legal front, in media and other public forums as well as in Parliament. The government hawks have concluded that in view of the lack of unanimity in the opposition over a movement to overthrow the government, Nawaz Sharif faces no imminent danger. However, the PMLN is concerned that the opposition’s propaganda barrage might affect its standing among its voters. The holding of the cabinet meeting after seven months was a part of the preparations to counter the opposition.
The government has decided to play on the front foot by holding public meetings and launching a vicious campaign against opposition leaders particularly those belonging to the PTI. The Law Minister has announced there will be no compromise on the TORs proposed by the government. Nawaz Sharif knows that sooner or later he will have to personally answer the questions being raised in relation with the Panama leaks in the National Assembly. This could turn into a discomforting experience in the presence of an articulate opposition. The main purpose behind holding the cabinet meeting was to get is endorsement of the government’s policy on Panama leaks including the TORs for the judicial commission. The government has achieved the goal. The Cabinet has also passed a resolution expressing confidence in Nawaz Sharif. Despite the government enjoying a comfortable position in National Assembly seeking endorsement of its stand from the majority in a house comprising 342 members may not be as easy. .
The government is unnecessarily ratcheting up the level of tension. Even now the opposition is willing to sit with the PMLN to jointly formulate the TORs. In case the government remains adamant, things can go out of the control of the more responsible elements in the opposition who want matters to be resolved strictly through constitutional means. In case of the confrontation getting prolonged there remains a likelihood of imponderables upsetting political calculations.