Toughest challenge for Sharifs

The killing of Punjab home minister Col. (Retd) Shuja Khanzada in a suicide bomb attack has left the country, particularly Punjab, in a state of shock and has cast doubt on the success of National Action Plan (NAP). The retaliation to avenge the death of Malik Ishaq in police encounter was expected and the minister had been receiving threats for quite some time.
Since the launch of operation “zarb-e-azb,” it is for the first time that a prominent PML-N leader was killed only weeks after the meeting of the apex committee, which decided to launch operation clean-up in the province. Is this the defining moment in the war against terrorism? It may not be easy for the PML-N to find Shuja’s replacement.
The attack also come about a week after the army chief, General Raheel Sharif endorsed the death sentence to seven militants responsible for last year’s Army Public School, Peshawar massacre.
It was quite understandable that the prime minister could not find time to congratulate the young Babar Zaman, who won the by-election in Haripur against Pakistan Tehreek Insaf candidate by a big margin. Obviously tt was not an occasion to celebrate but to appreciate the gesture of Imran Khan who announced that his party would not contest election on the seat that fell vacant as a result of the death of Col. Shuja.
Sacked federal minister, Mushahidullah, met the prime minister on Monday and explained his position on the BBC interview. Sources said he has been told to avoid any further controversy over this issues and the PM has asked him to keep himself away from the media, as much as possible.
His interview had embarrassed the government, but the prompt action has somewhat defused the situation. But it seems some of his ministers and leaders are causing embarrassment to the PM and to the party. Another PML (N) leader, Syed Zafar Ali Shah, in violation of Sharif’s decision to ease tension with MQM over resignations, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking acceptance of the resignations. Even if Shah Sahib has done so on his own the move has upset the PM.
This petition has coincided with a similar petition filed by Maulvi Iqbal Haider advocate against the non-acceptance of the resignations of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNAs. If both petitions were accepted for regular hearing the fate of over 70 MNAs would hang in the balance.
The killing of Col. Shuja should also be seen as a direct warning to the federal and Punjab governments for their decision to eliminate the alleged sanctuaries and sleeper’s cells in the Southern part of the province. There are clear indications as well as intelligence reports that the PML-N leaders could now become the target, particularly in Punjab. In the past leaders of Awami National Party, Pakistan Peoples Party and Muttahidda Qaumi Movement remained on the hit list and some of their leaders and legislators were also killed. Maulana Fazlur Rehman survived a suicide attack during elections, 2013.
Although, in the recent years, there have been some high profile attacks in Punjab, including suicide attacks on sensitive installations, the killing of a man who was leading the operation in Punjab has stunned Sharifs.
So, it is now a big challenge for Sharifs, and their movement might also be restricted. Only recently there had been a serious breach of security when the prime minister was going to Murree. The situation might cast a doubt over holding of local bodies’ elections in Punjab.
If the government succeeds in eliminating the terror network of the outlawed groups in Punjab, for which they would need to deploy paramilitary forces if not army, Sharifs stand to gain a lot in the coming months and years.
The intelligence agencies have already alerted some of the PML-N leaders and ministers, but strong statements from Sharif brothers indicate they are determined to hit back. They now intend to keep politics aside to win the battle against terrorism. Can they do it?
The writer is a senior columnist and analyst of GEO, The News and Jang