The party has to bite the bullet
Last time when ousted from power the PML-N top leadership opted for a comfortable exile rather than facing the sham legal proceedings of the Musharraf era. This time it was required to make a more difficult choice between a permanent exile or fighting a legal battle from jail with an uncertain outcome. It chose a course that its opponents least expected: staying in the country, facing the trial from jail and refusing to throw in the towel. This was an altogether unfamiliar course for the PML-N.
The arrest of Shahbaz Sharif less than two weeks before the bye elections was dubbed by the opposition leaders as an act of pre-poll rigging. On Sunday Imran Khan goaded NAB for faster action against those facing corruption cases. This could strengthen the perception that NAB was being manipulated for political purposes. This has led the PML-N to demand that Shahbaz Sharif who is also the leader of the opposition should be brought to parliament to present his case before the people of the country. In case the demand is not accepted, the PML-N has vowed to stage protests outside the National and Punjab Assemblies. This is a genuine demand that needs to be accepted. Both sides should try to stop the spilling of their disputes out of the Parliament.
The PML-N wishes to form an opposition alliance to confront the government. The PPP has instead proposed a joint stand on issues on which the opposition parties are agreed. The hope of a grand opposition alliance expressed by Hasil Bizenjo seems to be unrealistic at the time. The government would however expedite the grand alliance by continuing to shoot from the hip.
Those who voted for the PTI are still with the new government which also presently enjoys the full backing of the establishment. The PTI administration needs time to implement its agenda of reforms. The opposition has to wait for the government to either perform or be exposed. Patience has never been the hall mark of the political parties in Pakistan. Both the government the opposition need to realise that they have no option other than making a virtue of necessity.
