Sharif govt gains confidence to thwart any threat

Islamabad

The Nawaz Sharif government appears to be quite confident to continue in power till 2018 and beyond, and its confidence is based on ground realities despite all the speculations with reference to the minus /plus to a national government to return to military rule. The steam from  the so called Panamagate scam has been almost out after opposition parties divergent views on a joint movement against the government leaving the PTI all by itself to take the bogey of agitation forward.

Regrettably, however, the soothsayers do not give solo flight of Khan any importance due to his declining popularity. Hence, the government and the PML-N ministers/functionaries turn aggressive instead of conciliatory in their tones and  the ToRs issue is handled coolly and calmly, giving an impression they were least bothered even if no inquiry commission is set up to investigate into the money invested in offshore companies by PM’s family. The sting in the statements of PPP young leader Bilawal also seems to have been blunted by his father during their latest meet in Dubai for after his return his tone is quite compromising as far as the hue and cry over Panama papers leak were concerned. The PPP as a third political force is not able to run any campaign to cause a dent in the government, hence it has adopted a policy of using different languages by different leaders.

There is complete calm among the stakeholders that the talk of extension or no extension to the general has also evaporated after controversial banners that appeared across the country in support of Gen Raheel Sharif giving the PM a chance to review his position in light of the alert that the banners have given to the masses at large. The general who has earned a good name among Pakistani masses  by dint of his disciplined actions throughout his tenure may be offered extension in next few days by the concerned quarters, but he is prepared to decline to go in history as a man who despite getting many  opportunities had decided otherwise to prove him to be a true soldier.

In this atmosphere of PML-N government’s regaining of confidence a high ranking official predicted that keeping the ongoing political scenario in view the PML-N has become more confident about its existence and to win majority seats in 2018 with only about 20 seats loss to the opposition. Arguing, he pointed out that the ruling party has won almost all the by-polls in Punjab and swept the AJK polls despite full throated campaign by the opposition leadership, including Imran Khan and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Moreover, he maintained the targets that the PML-N had fixed to achieve in five years of its mandate are being met one by one.

A senior Leaguer, requesting anonymity, said that it was good luck of PM Sharif that all odds coming his way are removed by chain of events that follow, and he looks more poised than before Panamagate scam as he takes every step with a statesman’s vision and courage.