Not possible to do politics from London a la MQM chief
Nawaz Sharif’s decision to immediately return to Pakistan is best for the PML-N and the former Prime Minister. He took the decision after consulting his lawyers’ team and senior party leaders on Saturday and Sunday. Sharif apparently developed confidence after two recent developments i.e.: the victory in NA-120 and the adoption of the Election Bill 2017 by the Senate. The margin of victory in NA-120 was however considerably lower than in 2013, indicating a slippage in the party’s popularity. The passage of the Election Bill in the Senate removed the bar on Nawaz Sharif to hold the party chair despite having been disqualified as a NA member. As Sharif talked to the media on Saturday he was composed but still cautious.
The big question before Sharif was whether to return to Pakistan and face the courts or manage the government and party affairs from London following Altaf Hussain’s remote control methods. Unlike the MQM, PML-N is a mainstream party rather than an ethnic outfit ready to do anything at a signal from the supremo. Unlike Altaf, Sharif does not possess a band of fanatics to enforce party discipline or use underhand methods to silence critics. The corruption cases combined with a perception of Sharif’s uncertain political future had led to a plunge in his popularity. Differences had surfaced within the party also. With elections due in next few months, the PML-N was bound to lose more in popularity if Nawaz remained absent from the country.
Kulsum Nawaz was launched to enable Sharif to act in her name. Her illness, followed by a prolonged recuperation period, dashed the hopes. Sharif was unwilling to hand over the office of the PM or the chair of the PML-N to Shehbaz. Maryam was unacceptable as party chief to many in the PML-N. Sharif had developed a reputation for being scared of going to jail which explained his reluctance to face the court. The former PM has done well to return to Pakistan. He should now appear before the court to prove his innocence. Punjabi voters, the centre of his hopes, value courage while they disparage chicken-hearted leaders.
