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Thursday March 28, 2024

Challenges for the Sharif family

By Mazhar Abbas
May 31, 2016

Politics in Pakistan often had been run from abroad, when either by choice or otherwise top leaders operate from exile. But for the first time in our political history, government is being run from abroad. But, the beauty of our democratic system has been that we still valued our traditions, culture and customs, even in politics. It is good that the whole nation pray for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's early recovery, who will undergo a major "an open heart surgery” today (Tuesday). These are challenging times for the Sharif family as in the last three decades, it is elder Sharif who has led from the front and it is he who has taken some crucial political decisions.

The way politicians from the opposition like Imran Khan, Bilawal Bhutto, Khursheed Shah, Dr Farooq Sattar, Asfandyar Wali and others pray for Sharif's health before the operation certainly reflect on our values and political maturity. It would have been better if the PML-N leaders had avoided hard-hitting statements, but the kind of speeches made by Hamza Shahbaz, Pervaiz Rashid and others could not defuse the situation.

The party heads, in particular, often care for each other despite differences. Only recently Sharif brothers went to the house of former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to congratulate him over the return of his son after three years captivity. It must still be in the mind of Gilani that it was Sharif who had gone to the Supreme Court to dislodge him.

People still remember when Sharif suspended his campaign in 2013, when Imran was admitted to a hospital after serious injury and went to see him there. We still remember how Benazir Bhutto inquired after Sharif, after hearing about an attack on him, hours before she herself died in a suicide attack. He was the first to reach the hospital and he could not control his emotions.

Unlike in many parliaments around the world, we have not witnessed parliamentarians’ physical fight except for on one or two occasions. Democracy may have remained fragile and politics unstable and one may have serious reservations about their style of governance, but they do maintained cultural values, which is quite healthy for politics.

Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif created history on Monday by presiding over the federal cabinet and National Economic Coordination Committee meeting from London via Skype to give his consent to the National Budget-2016-17, fourth of his government’s. It is good to see him presiding over the meeting through video link, which may reflect his confidence 24 hours before the operation, but whether it was advisable or not from the media point of view is another debate.

Perhaps, in a normal circumstance, the PM would have taken a month- or two-month leave or even could be opted for retirement, but these are unusual times for him and his family, facing unprecedented pressure from the opposition over "Panama leaks”. There was also demand from his main rival, Imran Khan and also Bilawal Bhutto. So, it became far more difficult for him to take such decision at this point in time.

PM Sharif has certainly showed courage and faced criticism with ease, though at times he gets emotional over the accusation against his children, which even forced him to address the nation twice and make one address to the parliament. On all the three occasions, he did mention about accusation against his two sons, Hasan and Hussain Nawaz, but avoided the name of his beloved daughter, Maryam Nawaz, whom he sees as his successor.

So, one can understand the kind of stress he must have been in the last two months and no wonder during this period he twice went to the UK for medical check-up. What Sharif requires now after an operation is more rest and less stress. Unfortunately, in Pakistan its other way around: more stress and no rest.

There will be a ceasefire between the government and the opposition for at least few weeks: firstly because of Ramadan, followed by Eid; and secondly if they agreed on the terms of reference (ToRs), it may take a few months. If not, we may see political temperature rising in July and August, and this is the period when thePM needs complete rest.

This must be in the mind of the Sharif family, who would have consulted the family doctors before taking the final decision. If doctors advised him long rest, Mian Sahib will have to take a decision, keeping in mind the next elections and the possible opposition agitation.

Sharif has seen many ups and downs in politics. For almost two decades, the Sharifs had undisputed hold on Punjab and, despite being out of power during nine years of retired General Pervez Musharraf, their vote bank remained intact. Nawaz and later on Shahbaz still have firm grip on Punjab's politics. But for the first in 2011, and later on in 2013, they felt the leadership has been challenged by Imran Khan. Unlike the late Benazir Bhutto, who despite being most popular, could not pose a real threat to the Sharifs, the cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has disturbed their political base.

His aggressive politics and style caused problems for Sharifs and for the first time one has noticed Nawaz Sharif losing his temper and at times language, which has never been part of his humble style of politics. At the same time, this exactly goes in favour of Imran Khan, as the opposition often makes government look nervous.

Sharif has introduced an urban style of politics. Being a businessman, he was backed by even progressive and liberal circles, who thought that he would bring about industrialisation and break feudalism. His urban style also attracted the middle class, who saw Sharif as someone under whom they would have more job opportunities.

However, his opponents criticise his style of politics and they believe he suppresses his opponents. However, even they acknowledge that Nawaz Sharif is among the most humble politicians. Sharif remained chief minister of Punjab before he elevated himself to the office of prime minister, for the first time in 1990 elections, followed by his second term in 1997. He created history when he became the only PM to get elected for the third time in 2013.

Despite being elected the prime minister thrice, Sharif has passed through a difficult time in his political career and survived many challenges. In 2006, he and Benazir showed great courage when they admitted before each other the mistake they committed and became part of conspiracies. It was unlike of politicians of their stature to admit their mistakes and then signed historic, "Charter of Democracy”.

Otherwise a very humble politician, I have noticed him in the last two years losing his temper, getting hyper and at times emotional, all ingredients of a man under stress. Therefore, for the first time when he went for a medical check-up about a year back, he was warned by his medical team about problems ahead. After a series of tests, doctors found some complications and advised him for an operation.

An “Open heart surgery”, is a major operation but not the one which often gives a new life to any persons, but he will need a lot of care and less stress. Now, it is up to him, family and the party to see how to handle this situation in the best interest of PM Sharif and the country. So, one wishes him early recovery (Amen).

 

The writer is the senior columnist and analyst of Geo, The News and Jang.