PML-N’s London huddle and its relations with the government
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For Pakistan’s political leaders and other elite, London is the number one destination for rest, recreation, medical treatment and, it seems, politics. Most leading political leaders either own residential property there or their children and family are settled there.
The London meeting of high ranking members of Pakistan's largest opposition party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday, took place at a time when the party is undergoing several difficulties -- and revealed more issues on the horizon. For one, its two top leaders, Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and their immediate family members as well as other senior party leaders face investigations and court proceedings on charges of money-making from government positions, misappropriation of state funds and money laundering. Now, the Sharif brothers are out of Pakistan for medical treatment but the current predicament of these party leaders is expected to continue for an indefinite period of time.
The party consultation in London concerned the management of party affairs and the party’s disposition towards day-to-day issues in current Pakistani politics. These issues included the relationship with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), the party’s role in the Parliament, and legislation regarding the codification of the army chief’s tenure extension.
Though the PML-N has threatened to continue its strident approach toward the PTI, it is also expected to offer some cooperation if the PTI softens its own tough disposition.
Dr. Hasan Askari Rizvi
Currently, with the top brass in London, three PML-N leaders are active in representing the party on public issues in Pakistan and several senior leaders are active on the sidelines. But if the Sharif brothers decide to stay abroad for an indefinite period, they will have to appoint a fill-in leadership which is bound to increase competition within the party. Much will also depend on whether Maryam Nawaz stays on in Pakistan and comes back to active politics. One thing is for sure, internal organizational problems are on the horizon for the PML-N.
Though the PML-N has threatened to continue its strident approach toward the PTI, it is also expected to offer some cooperation if the PTI softens its own tough disposition. Despite the return of both sides to hostile discourse towards each other on the floor of the National Assembly, the PML-N and the PTI will in all probability, show some accommodation on legislation. The PML-N will want some serious concessions for its cooperation however, including permission for Maryam Nawaz to leave the country.
On legislation regarding the approval of the procedures for extension of the army chief, the PTI needs to win over the PML-N, but this should not be impossible. Leaving aside a small group of hardline leaders, a large section of PML-N leaders does want to cooperate with matters related to the armed forces and other national institutions, in the long-term political interests of the party.
The capacity of the PML-N to play tough with the PTI government also depends on the cooperation it obtains from the other opposition parties, especially the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Like the PML-N, the PPP questions the legitimacy of the PTI government as a genuine representative government. However, it does not fully share the PML-N agenda as both compete for electoral support in the eastern Punjab province. Therefore, the PPP’s cooperation with the PML-N varies from issue to issue, and the PPP will assert its autonomy in the opposition any chance it gets.
The overall relationship between the PML-N and PTI will continue to be troubled. Both sides will go on trading charges and counter charges in the parliament and outside and will often employ unparliamentary discourse against each other. However, the possibilities of issue-oriented cooperation cannot be ruled out because a strong section in the PML-N does not favor an unrelentingly stubborn approach toward the federal government and state institutions. If the PTI government falters, it will be more because of its poor governance and weak political management, rather than the PMLN’s non-cooperation.
- Dr. Hasan Askari Rizvi is a Pakistan-based political analyst. Twitter: @har132har
