The vote bank of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is built on the personality of Nawaz Sharif. He has served as Prime Minister three times but has never completed his constitutional term; his government was either dismissed or he had to resign. Due to the conspiracies of the power brokers and conflicts of interest, he and his party have repeatedly been ousted from power.
The struggles between those who have removed him and Nawaz Sharif were not based on moderate politics, modern democracy, the supremacy of the constitution and law, or the protection of public interests; rather, it has always been a battle for power, which continues to this day. Whether it’s the founder of PTI, Nawaz Sharif, or any leader, their objective is not to protect the public interest.
This has been a personal and group power struggle steeped in various forms of negative biases and hatreds. This issue is not just with Nawaz Sharif but is a reflection of the overall circus of power politics in the nation. Every political leader, bureaucrat, social leader, intellectual, and religious figure is caught up in narrow-minded ideologies and prejudices, while they continue to use democracy and the rule of law as tools and shields. This is why Pakistan’s economic and social development is sluggish.
If we compare the political style and governance of Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N before and during PTI’s rule, as well as their post-power political strategies, we find that they are strikingly similar. Both desperately want power. Both consider themselves above the law, seeking unconditional support from the establishment, judiciary, and bureaucracy. Both blame their opponents for their mistakes while portraying themselves as champions of truth and righteousness. Some people say that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is pro-establishment while Nawaz Sharif is anti-establishment. However, can Shahbaz Sharif’s overall political actions and decisions be seen truly without Nawaz Sharif’s support or consent? The answer is negative.
Whenever Nawaz Sharif has received relief from the establishment, it has been with the support of Shahbaz Sharif. Therefore, to view Shahbaz Sharif as pro-establishment and Nawaz Sharif as anti-establishment would be a naïve analysis. The same goes for the PTI and its founder. They openly state that they will negotiate only with the establishment while giving their supporters the impression that they are fighting against it, and their supporters do not just label the PTI founder as a revolutionary leader but also genuinely believe it.
Pakistan currently faces four major issues in internal, regional, and global politics: political instability, a failing economy, a governance crisis, and ongoing conflicts within institutions, along with security challenges and deteriorating relations with India and Afghanistan.
Nawaz Sharif’s party holds significant power in national politics, controlling the federal government, the Punjab government, and holding important positions in Balochistan. However, if we honestly assess the overall political situation and Nawaz Sharif’s role, we notice the traditional contradictions. On one hand, he appears tired, politically isolated, or caught in power constraints. We saw a glimpse of this in his poetry during the last National Assembly session.
While the PML-N government is under the control of Shahbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, the party’s vote bank still belongs to Nawaz Sharif. This is why there are reservations about the party’s policies. Therefore, if we observe Nawaz Sharif’s silence or political isolation in national politics or his detachment from significant political matters, we must also understand his political constraints and priorities, as what he is doing appears to be part of a pre-determined script.
The PML-N and its analysts believed that after the founder of PTI was ousted from power, he would soon become insignificant, allowing the PML-N to set new records of public popularity. However, this did not happen; in the general elections, the PML-N could not achieve a single majority and had to form a government with allies. Although the PML-N is currently in power, when they step outside the political sphere, the party will face a genuine crisis. The PML-N’s politics is limited to Punjab, and their political dominance in Punjab is not what it once was.
In the current circumstances, Nawaz Sharif’s role has been reduced to a few meetings or attending gatherings, or limiting himself to the pleasant climate of Murree. Some speculate that his alleged trip to London is also within this context. How long he will stay in London or if he will remain there for an extended period is currently uncertain, and it appears he wants to delegate the significant responsibilities of the family and party to Shahbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, freeing himself from these burdens.
Nawaz Sharif has gained and lost much in the game of power. Due to his age, he is considerably weaker now, and his behavior presents him more as a pragmatic politician than a defiant political leader. If he leaves the country, rumors will undoubtedly circulate. However, the reality is that the political role he is playing has been a choice he made.