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Home TFT E-Paper Archives

Who’s unstoppable?

Najam Sethi by Najam Sethi
November 17, 2017
in TFT E-Paper Archives, Editorials, Main Slider
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According to some analysts, Imran Khan is unstoppable because the Miltablishment has levelled the field and carpeted the road for him to the prime minister’s office in Islamabad. His stars are apparently aligned, his foes are divided and disarrayed and “electables” are cantering to his stables. The Supreme Court has gone after his main rival, Nawaz Sharif, all guns blazing. If his prospects are thus bright in the Punjab, the outlook in Karachi and rural Sindh is not bad. The MQM factions are at each other’s throats, dividing the ethnic vote, and giving him a foothold by default. The Miltablishment is also working overtime to stitch up an alliance or seat adjustment formula between the PTI and disparate anti-PPP and anti-PMLN elements in rural Sindh in order to make Khan a player in the Sindh assembly. As far as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is concerned, no fears. Notwithstanding Khattak’s corruption and Gulalai’s rage, its angry, idealistic youth still love the Teflon Man.

Alas. If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

Nawaz Sharif’s iqama disqualification that turned on a seriously deficient definition of taxable income has, unfortunately, undermined the credibility of the SC. The angry and overtly political response to the review petition has underscored the perception of bias. The appointment of a judge who penned the original anti-“Godfather” judgment as the presiding judge in the Hudaibiya case was an embarrassing sign of pre-ordained “justice”, its quick reversal an abject acknowledgment of it no less. The unholy gallop of the NAB courts against the Sharifs, compared to the walk-the-talk of the SC with Imran Khan and Jehangir Tareen, is equally deserving of negative comment. All this explains why Nawaz Sharif is still milking the Iqama factor for sympathy and even a mountain of evidence of wrong doing in the Hudaibiya case may not dent his legitimacy and popularity.

Then there is the matter of the case against Imran Khan. Everyone knows that if the SC were to adjudge it on the yardstick of Iqama it would be curtains for him. But if he is let off the hook on the basis of different standards of justice, Nawaz’s case in the eyes of the people would be strengthened. Indeed, his stock might rise if he is imprisoned – at least that’s the lesson of history when imprisonment or exile of popular leaders by unaccountable individuals or institutions is perceived as victimization – and the PMLN will reap the dividend in the next elections. Disqualification of both leaders would even the scales of justice and redeem the SC. It might even please the Miltablishment to be rid of two loose cannons while getting a freer hand to manipulate the malleable leadership waiting in the wings of the two mainstream parties. Indeed, this “solution” would facilitate a similar targeting of Asif Zardari by reopening old corruption cases and speed-tracking them to desired ends. After all, the Miltablishment is still hooked to the nexus between “corruption and terrorism” in Sindh that it first articulated three years ago and still determined to nail it for all times to come.

Consider, too, the implications of Nawaz Sharif’s resolve to stand and fight the Miltablishment against the advice of his brother and heir apparent Shahbaz Sharif. The Miltablishment has offered a deal: stop resisting, melt away into quiet exile and let Shahbaz lead the party in exchange for a partial reprieve for daughter Maryam and go-slow in the NAB cases against the family. But Nawaz has spurned the offer. This means that the Miltablishment must either step up the pressure in palpably painful or distasteful ways or retreat and leave Nawaz’s fate in the wobbly hands of the judiciary and uncertain affections of the people. The latter option is not a particularly appetizing one for a self-righteous Miltablishment bent on social and political engineering. But there is also a legal and political limit to the powers of the Miltablishment that is shy of seizing power directly and afraid of reaping the whirlwind of domestic and international opposition.

Everyone is looking at the next general elections in this context. Imran Khan’s demand for an early election is mere pressure tactics. In actual fact, his KP CM Pervez Khattak has just signed on in the CCI with the other mainstream parties for elections much later on due date. Similarly, everyone has agreed to delimitation of constituencies on the basis of the new census, which means elections not a day before due date. In other words, it has dawned on everyone that, while Nawaz should be downed and outed, they must not rock the boat so much that the Miltablishment can find an excuse to seize the electoral process, delay the elections and engineer a political geography without them.

Clearly, therefore, it is the people who will eventually decide who is stoppable and who is not. And that is the way it should be.

Also Read:

Tackling Pakistan’s Polycrisis Requires Clarity And Consensus. Both Are Missing.

Polarization In Broadcast Media Eroding Credibility

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Najam Sethi

Najam Sethi

Najam Aziz Sethi is a Pakistani journalist, businessman who is also the founder of The Friday Times and Vanguard Books. Previously, as an administrator, he served as Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board, caretaker Federal Minister of Pakistan and Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan.

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Comments 9

  1. Abdul Aly says:
    5 years ago

    Yes, the analyses are quite in the middle road,but your opinion weighs toward PML-N. The problem is none in the country is neat and clean and everyone from peon to high-up carries a heavy baggage of filthy wrong-doing. It seems at the moment PTI the only option out in the political field, but people will also not like to wash the dirt out right by this party also when it assumes helm of the affairs. If the NAB court could retrieve few pennies from top political guns; which have been stashed abroad would at least set a good precedent for all who will come next in line either judge, general or politicians.Let begin with little evil and hope for cleaning the stable slowly and steadily.

  2. Imran Ahmed says:
    5 years ago

    Institutions are of far greater importance than individuals, even Prime Ministers in their last year of office.
    Our SC by giving the appearance of partisan justice has cut off its nose to spite its face.
    It will remain disfigured for all to see. The public can see through the machinations to fool and disenfranchise it.

  3. Naheed says:
    5 years ago

    Very biased piece of writing.Do you really think that NS has not amassed wealth and Ishaq Dar has not brought the country to near bankruptcy?Do some soul searching and you will find the right answers.

  4. Lota hater says:
    5 years ago

    There is no need to leave a comment. Only those comments have a chance which support the views

  5. Amajid says:
    5 years ago

    Sethi Saab has a wild lmaginations !!!!

  6. Ch. K. A. Nye says:
    5 years ago

    Still this inane belief that the judgement was as simple as that the ex-Emperor didn’t declare his taxable income abroad.

    Then unfortunately you are mistaken. It’s because he lied. Lied to me, to you, to parliament, the Senate and for what it’s worth, the Nation too.

    He denied all that he was accused of and was caught employed by a foreign company and not declaring income. HE LIED.

  7. Alauddin Masood says:
    5 years ago

    In his front-page editorial “Who’s Unstoppable,” Najam Sethi has deftly analyzed the pitfalls of “political engineering,” presently being resorted to by some circles with the aim to install pliable characters in positions of authority. They remain engaged in this dangerous exercise for the last couple of years. Be it well-orchestrated 2014 Dharna or Panama Papers’ proceedings, the country’s intelligentsia and avowed monitors of the media have been able to read between the lines and identify the hidden hands and masked faces each time. But, it must be remembered that political engineering is fraught with dangers. Events can trigger change in public opinion. But, generally masses sympathize with and extend support to persons who, in their opinion, have been wronged or have not received a fair treatment. This impression seems to be gaining ground for the PML-N leader because of different parameters for court proceedings against PML-N leader and the establishment’s “black horse.” Unless the establishment’s favourite received treatment the same way as it was meted out to PML-N leader, the public opinion would keep tilting in favour of the ousted leader who may become a national hero ultimately. However, if the application of law was identical in all cases then the outcome could be different.
    Currently, the country needs peace and stability so that it could reap optimum benefits from the CPEC projects. What to speak about new investment, some foreign investors are flying away to more greener pastures.

  8. M Ajmal javed says:
    5 years ago

    No one is Unstoppable. Anyone who wants to come will have to surrender completely. Otherwise Dharna sequel will continue even after the 2018 elections.
    With different rulers and opponents

  9. Ibrahim Khalid says:
    5 years ago

    Once again Najam Sethi has proven himself to be the best analyst of this time. What a thought provoking and well researched article! Well done.

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