Sharif Nawaz, the former prime minister of Pakistan, is returning home this weekend from a self-imposed banishment in preparation for the common elections.
Few, if any, could have predicted the dramatic change for someone who has spent so much of his lengthy job working against the strong army.
Mr. Sharif was serving day in Pakistan when he was last there for problem, but in November 2019, his release from prison was permitted due to health reasons.
Now it seems the army is ready to welcome back the man it overthrew in a coup; he might even become prime minister once more.
Not only that, but in a startling reversal of roles, his adversary Khan Imran, who took over as prime minister in 2018, is now behind bars after squabbling with the government.
What may occur if Sharif arrives?
After obtaining parole to leave prison in an atmosphere hospital, apparently for medical care, the three-time former prime minister has spent the last four years in London.
Since Khan Imran was ousted in a political vote of no confidence in 2022, he has increased his social activities.
At that point, Mr. Sharif’s PML-N group assumed control of Pakistan, with his younger brother Shahbaz in demand. Big Brother is now returning home; on Saturday, he is scheduled to fly into Islamabad from Dubai before continuing on to his hometown of Lahore for a common exchange.
He didn’t worry about being detained because he has secured loan until a hearing next month, even though there are also court cases to be heard.
Mr. Sharif has previously returned from captivity.
In order to participate in elections for the first time since the 1999 revolution that had removed him from office, he and other opposition leader Benazir Bhutto struck a traditional package with the government in 2007.
The Pakistan People’s Party ( PPP ) of Ms. Bhutto won the election weeks after she was assassinated at an election rally because all major opposition parties were on the same page then, unlike they are today.
Did Sharif become prime minister once more?
His group has declared that he will run for prime minister in this year’s votes, which have now been postponed until 2024.
However, the 73-year-old faces a number of challenges, not the least of which is an economy in crisis for which his party is largely to blame and widespread sentiment that the vote won’t be honest because his main rival is imprisoned.
The government is another factor, which has a significant impact on how Pakistan is run.
The former prime minister has occasionally spoken out strongly against the armed troops while overseas. He specifically accused the former military chief of staff and a former head of the feared ISI intelligence agency of being responsible for social unrest, both of which were refuted.
Mr. Sharif claimed that he had been the victim of” false circumstances” and that the courts in the nation had conspired against him. He claimed that this had led to a democracy that was sorely damaged that none of Pakistan’s prime ministers had been able to complete their legal terms in office.
His political rivals believe a deal has been reached with the army to permit his return, but they assert that Sharif Nawaz’s victory in the elections is also uncertain.
” I don’t see him becoming PM again because there are cases against him and also, he is disqualified for life from politics according to court orders ,” Zulfi Bukhari of Khan Imran’s Pakistan Tehreek – e Insaf( PTI ) party told the BBC.
However, a lot of observers believe that Mr. Sharif’s situation may turn out differently.
” Our elections haven’t changed in terms of the environment or the hand.” According to social researcher Wajahat Masood, just the political figures have changed.
Khan Imran was helped by the organisation during the 2018 elections, according to reports. The military is currently active conducting primaries for Sharif Nawaz.
The army has not stated whether it prefers Mr. Sharif, and it and Khan Imran have consistently refuted allegations that they ever conspired before breaking off.
Will there be a sensible election?
Some believe the ballot won’t be reasonable because Khan Imran is imprisoned and his group has suffered as a result of the crackdown that followed violent protests over his arrest in May.
Prior to the arrest of its leader, the PTI had a lead in the polls, but Zulfi Bukhari claims that now there is no level playing field and that the majority of other events concur.
How can you imprison the most well-liked social figure in the nation before votes? Mr. Bukhari enquired. You will see how powerful Khan Imran’s voting bank is if you hold free and fair elections.
When Sharif Nawaz was imprisoned prior to the 2018 election, his group made related statements.
Social experts therefore see record repeating itself, this time benefiting the PML-N rather than the PTI.
The market is the main point of contention; both parties share responsibility for the chaos it has created. When voters finally have the opportunity to cast their ballots, skyrocketing prices and rising living expenses will be on their minds.
Despite PML-N’s assertions that Sharif Nawaz has held office in the past and is skilled at” fixing everything again ,” it is unclear how he would go about doing this.
And the majority of Pakistanis are extremely dissatisfied with what they perceive to be their nation’s flawed democratic method. Particularly young people today openly criticize officials and the military’s involvement in politics.
Is the military trust Sharif Nawaz?
The army, which has a lengthy and tumultuous background with Sharif Nawaz and is heavily involved in Pakistan’s politics and has taken power in several coups.
Wajahat Masood and other observers think that the government is willing to give him another chance despite this and the absence of another obvious options.
According to Mr. Masood,” The government initially launched Khan Imran believing that was a better option and that he was secure imagine, but after they felt their power was being questioned, they decided to take him down.”
It appears to be Sharif Nawaz’s move now.
Despite Mr. Sharif’s criticisms of the government coming from London, he and another analysts see indications that a deal has been reached between him and the establishment.
They recall that Mr. Sharif was initially viewed as a defense solution and protected himself from the same accusations as Khan Imran.
How does Mr. Sharif play his cards now, given that he has been at odds with the government for the majority of his career?
Past MP Nadeem Afzal Chan asserts that he won’t be a” Yes Sir” person.
He acknowledges Mr. Sharif’s history of conflict with authority.
However, Mr. Chan, who also acted as Khan Imran’s spokesman when he was prime minister, says,” He knows the boundaries and knows when to mix them and what to allow proceed.”
But, Mr. Chan and other professionals do anticipate conflict at some point; it’s only a matter of day.
Election dates may be established first, though, and the campaign’s primary goal will be to prevent the economy from collapsing.
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November 19, 2019
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19 September 2018
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