Nothing much to lose
Imran Khan has given an ultimatum to the PML-N to resolve the issue of TOR’s (terms of reference) for the Panamagate investigation before 7 August or his party will launch a nationwide movement similar to the 2014 putsch.
There are a few similarities between the 2014 street agitation and the impending national movement next month. The primary demand is the resignation of Nawaz Sharif. The PML-N, as before, are unwilling to budge and provide satisfactory answers to the questions being asked.
The major difference this time is that there is a united opposition on the single issue of offshore companies owned by the PM’s children. While the PTI has opted for street agitation rather than election preparation, the PPP feels that a campaign of verbal onslaughts against Nawaz Sharif up until the 2018 elections, as opposed to the PTI approach, is a suitable strategy to regain the party’s once formidable presence in Punjab.
Participation by the PPP was always unlikely and IK feels content with his own numbers and probable contributions from the Canadian Maulana and Gujrati Chaudhry.
Meanwhile the PM who is still not a hundred percent after his surgery has a lot on his plate. Apart from IK getting under his skin, there are matters of foreign policy, Rangers in Sindh, CPEC, intra party grievances, election commission appointments and relations with the army just to name a few. Recent chatter of General Raheel Sharif’s extension just months before his retirement, campaigns inviting him to take over and IK’s subtle suggestions of a coup are only adding towards Nawaz Sharif’s worries.
It would be in the best interest of the PML-N to find an amicable solution to the TOR’s deadlock through dialogue before a repeat of 2014 is knocking at their doors. The demand for the PM’s resignation should not be the starting point either. The national mandate is with Nawaz Sharif and a focus towards preparation for 2018 elections would serve the PTI and democracy better than an all-out national street movement with the hopes that the third umpire might just intervene this time.
