Test for Sharif nerves

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has seen many "ups and down" in his 32 years in politics, but now he is facing one of his toughest tests as more than his personal political career is at stake, i.e. his successors, Maryam, Hussain and Hasan Nawaz. How well can he defend himself when he appears in the National Assembly to answer key questions regarding his and his family's assets since he has entered into politics? More important for him is not to satisfy the opposition, but the nation. Democracy is not under threat but democrats are. So speak the truth, nothing but the whole truth.

It’s a test for the opposition also as how much political sagacity they would show when the prime minister comes and delivers an address on the issue – the Panama Papers.

Corruption has damaged our society and political and democratic system. Therefore, it is important for the man who is holding the office of the prime minister to clear himself first and leave the rest to follow. 

It is a big test for Sharif, not only to come out clean even before a judicial commission but also to take steps to defuse the political tension in the country, which some of his aides are trying to create through counterattacks and thus falling in the trap. The PM needs to understand that his children's names have not appeared in the opposition's white paper, but in a global leak.

From a "blue-eyed boy" of the establishment in the late 70s and 80s to the one who challenged the establishment, twice in 1993 and in 1999, now NS has to come out strong both as a leader and as a politician, if he is not guilty. One expects him to answer the questions put forward by the opposition, rather than asking counter-questions.

Politically, NS had learnt few lessons and once he and the late Benazir Bhutto had admitted their mistakes of playing in the hands of the establishment against each other. This confession from both sides led to the historic "Charter of Democracy" in 2006.

Sharif changed his politics after the CoD, and he was the first leader who reached hospital after hearing the news of Benazir’s assassination. Hours earlier, BB called him when she heard about an attack on his procession the same day, i.e. December 27, 2007.

Her assassination was a turning point and after the PPP government led by Mr Zardari did not honour an agreement on restoration of judges, it led to a new row between the PML-N and the PPP. But the PPP completed its tenure for the first time since its first government in 1972.

Today we need a “Charter against Corruption” which must be signed by all parties and leaders, but after they get themselves cleared and declare their "true assets" or publicly admit their mistakes and return the money. For this, the government can make the FBR, the NAB and the FIA autonomous bodies having competent people.

Sharif should feel lucky for having a soft leader of the opposition, Syed Khursheed Shah, and Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Though Imran Khan is a misguided missile and once Nawaz’s right-hand man, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, and Dr Farooq Sattar are against him, while, on the other side, he has a "man for all seasons"         Maulana Fazlur Rehman          besides his own team of politically-mature MNAs like Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Ishaq Dar and Pervez Rasheed (provided they don't play the role of more loyal than the king). 

It would be interesting to see who would be sitting in the "visitors gallery," when the PM will address the NA. Will his family be there like his spouse Kulsoom and daughter Maryam. I still remember their presence in an anti-terrorism court in 2000 when the daughter stood from her seat and shouted anti-Musharraf slogans as soon as the court sentenced Sharif to life imprisonment.

I could not forget the expression on the face of Sharif, his typical smile along with anger, at that very moment after ATC Judge Rehmat Hussain Jaffery convicted him in the hijacking case about former army chief Pervez Musharraf.

But on Monday it would be a different court. It is the one for which Nawaz Sharif himself had struggled for almost nine years when his government was overthrown on October 12, 1999. It is the parliament of Pakistan, the court of people's representatives. He should have opted for this option about a month back when the "Panama Papers" were first leaked and the name of his children appeared for having offshore companies.

For being a father, his children's names disturbed him most, which led to his personal decision of addressing the nation twice. But, had he applied his mind and before taking any step made telephone calls to Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah, Asfandyar Wali, Dr Farooq Sattar, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Sirajul Haq and announced the judicial commission, things would have been much different today.

Many opposition leaders may have far more serious charges to face than Sharif, but that is not the question. The government can only raise this question after getting its prime minister and his family cleared of all charges, in accordance with the spirit of democracy.

The opposition always creates rumpus in the parliament and Sharif, being a veteran politician, knows that and must calm down his own ranks and file. Remember the slogan like "Go Baba Go" raised by Benazir Bhutto against former president the late Ghulam Ishaq Khan or "Go Musharraf Go" raised by the PML-N. So, if now some opposition leaders shout "Go Nawaz Go", he and his party need to show patience.

When the Sindh High Court upheld the ATC decision, his family initially took a democratic path of struggle before his "Saudi friends" intervened and he went into exile for 10 years          the decision which disappointed his political workers. He should satisfy the parliament and listen to the opposition's criticism.

The seven questions put forward by the opposition and apparently prepared by two eminent lawyers Ch Aitzaz Ahsan and Hamid Khan, the two who stood by Sharif during the lawyers movement till the restoration of deposed judges in 2009, may be tough and could make the PM nervous, but he must come out straight. First, he should get himself cleared and then take on the opposition which too has leaders who find themselves difficult to defend themselves.

PM Sharif also needs to dispel the impression that he has any personal grudge against Imran Khan, the most prominent opposition leader in the country and the one who has challenged the Sharifs in Punjab.

IK and the PTI has brought a new culture in politics, which has its positives as well as negatives but if the opposition manages to make the government nervous and aggressive, it often goes in favour of the opposition.

But all this is part of politics. So, let’s see who will get more numbers, Sharif or the opposition? It’s a test for Sharif’s nerves.

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