- And the declining authority of the elected governments
The PML-N is fighting elections at a time when it is at loggerheads with the establishment. What has harmed the party most is the widening gulf between the objectives of the Sharif brothers, one supporting confrontation with the establishment while the other offering cooperation to it. Both the elder Sharif and Maryam, who pulled crowds due to their anti-establishment rhetoric, have been forced to abandon the campaign on account of the illness of Begum Kulsum Nawaz. Their fate would soon be decided by the accountability court. Shahbaz Sharif, who lacks the elder brother’s charisma and possesses little understanding of the sensitivities of smaller provinces, is leading the party. The best that the PML-N can achieve under the circumstances is what the PPP did in 2008 — emerging as the largest party but lacking numbers to form government on its own
The PTI is likely to put up a better performance than in 2013 on account of the newly recruited electables who have joined the party with the connivance of the establishment. Still unsure of victory, Imran Khan is seeking the support of pirs. The transformation of the party claiming to fight for change and modernity into a party of the status quo depending on superstitious acts for coming to power has alienated hundreds of its youthful cadre. The party might get larger representation in the NA this time but like the PML-N may not be in a position to form the government without alliances. What is more the PTI will remain at the mercy of those who brought the electables to it and will reclaim them whenever they liked. So far foreign affairs and security have been under the control of the establishment. Economy might be the next subject slipping out of the hands of the government.
Extremist outfits like the MML, ASWJ, and the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan have been allowed to contest elections. This is a solid block which besides the electables would be at the beck and call of the establishment to bring the newly elected government to heel.
