The opposition alliance, which had put the government on the defensive, stands divided on account of sharp differences between the PPP and PML-N. After the PDM meeting on Saturday, alliance chief Fazlur Rehman told media that the PPP and ANP were no longer with the alliance, adding however that both still had time to inform the alliance if they wanted to return.
While addressing a joint press conference in Charsadda with ANP leader Amir Haider Khan Hoti, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said it would be inappropriate to utter bad things about one another after spending time together doing politics. He contended however that it would have been better for the PDM to follow the action plan signed by the ten parties’ alliance that had called for the use of democratic, political and parliamentary options to confront the PTI-led government inside and outside the parliament. Despite the earlier exchange of harsh words between the PDM and the PPP and ANP leaders, both sides have kept their door open. What is more, the PPP and ANP still consider Shahbaz Sharif the leader of the opposition in NA.
The long simmering differences between the hardliners represented by Maryum Nawaz and softliners represented by Shahbaz Sharif are out into the open. That the PML-N won almost all the seats it contested in by-elections this years has raised the morale of its legislators who believe they can repeat the performance in general elections due in 2023 provided the establishment remains neutral as it was during the by-elections. Most of them are unwilling to languish in jails on account of the establishment’s hostility. They have conveyed their views to PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif.
While the discussion on the PML-N’s future course of action continues, Shahbaz Sharif is required to lead the opposition in the forthcoming budget session, exposing and getting removed anything seen as against the people’s interest. Being a major supporter of dialogue with establishment he is required to persuade those who matter to curtail their role in politics and devote themselves entirely to their constitutionally mandated role. Failure on either front would be the undoing of Shahbaz Sharif.
