“General Qamar Javed Bajwa, you packed up our government, which was working well, and put the nation and the country at the altar of your wishes.” This was stated by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in the first jalsa of 11-party opposition alliance, under the banner of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
No one in the history of Pakistan had criticized military leadership in such a way Nawaz Sharif did. The former prime minister accused the country’s army chief of toppling his government, pressurizing the judiciary, and installing the current government of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
There is a lot of curiosity in the political circles about the opposition movement. However, some political analysts have suggested that just holding a rally will not make any difference to the government. However, analysts are sceptical that the latest attempt by the opposition to form a united front against Khan will lead to much.
A political analyst who served as a senior official during the 2018 polls, says the movement will likely involve more rhetoric than action. The history of anti-government marches, some of which invited military intervention, is as old as Pakistan itself. Currently, there is something to focus on.
PEMRA has banned the speeches of Nawaz Sharif but all other leaders, including Maryam Nawaz and Bilawal Bhutto, are also dragging state institutions, especially Pakistan Army, in their so-called democratic awareness campaign.
Just like, in yesterday’s jalsa in Karachi, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz said, “When you are pressed for answers, you hide behind the armed forces. You coward! You bring the army into disrepute. You use them [army] to hide your own failures.”
She also said, “In a fight among elders, there is no room for children.” A word to the wise is sufficient. This open criticism could have a great impact on the military institution. The Pakistan Democratic Movement jalsas also represented a watershed moment in Pakistani politics.
Sharif’s been here before. But then agreed to stay quiet for a period of time. He identified the elephant in the room and was quite open about who was responsible for the state of affairs in the country as a result of transgressions of the Constitution and the law.
Nawaz Sharif was signalling unambiguously that he was not prepared to listen to those in his party who still favoured seeking accommodation with the all-potent power brokers in the country.
Meanwhile, the media coverage, which is being given to the opposition jalsas, is another suspicious thing. The thing which should be clear that he named the names, we didn’t. Sharifs have ruled the roost in Punjab for long and have carved out a huge constituency in the province.
How will the law and order machinery react in the event of public protests, said to be desperate due to rampant inflation. It’ll be interesting to see if the backers’ silence suggests continued, unified acquiescence. It is true that something’s fishy.
