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Friday April 19, 2024

PML-N’s strategy in Leaks issue seems to be working

By Ahmad Hassan
May 15, 2016

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s strategy of aggression, defence and retaliation seems to be working well as things are smothering with each passing day for the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the opposition’s momentum getting softer and pliable.

The government seems to be playing another wait and see game by offering the opposition olive branch, meaning to enter into process of dialogue on mode of accountability on Panama paper leaks, constitution of commission, legislation and Terms of Reference.

IK is perturbed over the division created in the ranks of his other partner PPP as one faction, led by Asif Ali Zardari and comprising  Khursheed Shah, Raza Rabbani and Farhatullah Babar have adopted a soft line on PM’s accountability; whereas, Bilalwal Bhutto Zardari is leading the group consisted of Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Raja Parvaiz Ashraf and Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.  The very fact that the diversity of policy within one party will confuse the matter, and the momentum mounted so far is showing signs of breaking up.

The PM is scheduled to chair a high level meeting of his close aides, ministers, advisers and legal experts in the afternoon, which will consult as how to go about opposition’s seven questions which supposedly are simple, but, in fact, not as easy to respond. Apparently, the prime minister has been advised to instead of replying to all questions, he should retaliate with the aggressive style putting counter questions as already made public by his lieutenants’ junior ministers and legislators.

The issue of Panama Leaks as it lingers on and seems to be ending in a draw, especially after coming out the names of Imran Khan and five of his other party men, along with one that of PPP the issue of opening offshore companies is automatically neutralised.  However, investigation into the method adopted to transfer money abroad and source of earning remains to be done which a strong and authoritative commission alone can accomplish.