Are we finally getting somewhere?
Attempts are finally afoot on the part of the government to hold talks with the opposition to reduce the prevailing tension over Panama leaks issue. The PMLN leadership has realized that neither the public meetings addressed by the Prime Minister, nor the display of solidarity by the PMLN allies would browbeat the opposition. Nawaz Sharif has finally agreed to attend the NA session on Friday as demanded by the joint opposition. Two federal ministers called on the Leader of the Opposition on Tuesday presumably to seek the assurance that the government’s critics would not cross limits during the PM’s presence.
There are differences between the opposition on how to deal with the Panama leaks issue. On the one extreme is Imran Khan who holds that the Prime Minister has lost the moral high ground and must resign failing which he is determined to hold a sit-in outside the Sharif family’s Raiwind estate. On the other extreme are parties like the ANP and QWP who are oppose agitation against the government. The PPP which is keen to punish the PMLN for its sanctimonious attitude and thinks the Panama affair has provided it an opportunity to show to the people that the PMLN leadership too has indulged in corruption while blaming others for looting the national wealth. While the PPP wants to expose the government, it doesn’t want to derail the system.
The PMLN is keen to gain the support of the PPP. The PPP knows however that in order to retain credibility and improve its position among the public, it has to avoid being seen as a B-team of the government. While being a part of the opposition alliance it has to wring credible concessions from the PMLN which it can present as a gain in return for ending the strife. It cannot therefore afford to let Nawaz Sharif off the hook for nothing. Whatever decision the PPP finally takes, Imran Khan would continue the fight to prove that his party alone is the real opposition.