THE ROUGH ROAD FOR NAWAZ - PML
In a disparate coalition within overwhelming problems while PPP continues to maintain hold, PML (N) by any appearance is lurking in leadership disarray, even as opposition, much less a convincing alternative to the PPP government.
Mr. Zardari, who became an accidental beneficiary, sooner rallied support and is now in full control. PPP has survived problems, some genuine others failed while it has now resorted to political meandering and handouts on top of unprecedented corruption to wonder the direction the country heading. For all the promise of the return of Chief Justice Chaudhary, today he seems increasingly weakened on his essential role with now a feeling that sooner he may be resigned to even keeping his job.
Instinctively smart, there is little evidence that despite the new charter, Mr. Zardari has surrendered the real power if any more than passing the buck to the eager Mr. Gilani to find soft corners, particularly in PML(N), in what is then described as friendly opposition. If ultimately, this goes more to the benefit of Mr. Zardari, Mr. Gillani on his own fails to impress as a leader
Since their return, Nawaz and Shabaz Sharif sit at the center and Punjab while questions are raised whether over the years they have lost the essential girth people were familiar with. Mr. Nawaz Sharif by his own right is a high profile leader who even in the opposition can travel outside to make a case for Pakistan. Ironically, he has not stepped out to even go to India where there is still a soft corner for him. The other is the failure to unify with PML(Q) with some astute political mandarins that even Gen.Musharaf put to use in keeping his government. Within PML (N) own ranks, there seems commitment but few notables to have really made an impact. PML break up is clearly a sore point that PPP can only relish.
To all this, despite Mr.Sharif’s national furor and good intentions, he is viewed as uncompromising in contrast to Mr. Zardari, and for one, never really found favor with the military. Despite Musharaf’s forced take over, his latter overtures to Mr. Sharif were spurned adding further hostility - Benazir Bhutto incidentally, drove home the advantage. Mr. Sharif’s role in return of Chief Justice Choudary and charter of democracy have been some achievements, but Mr.Zardari claims that as his success.
To Shabaz Sharif, he is a strong administrator and a doer more than a politician. Himself, a prime ministerial material with direct approach, he was seen a better leader even by then Clinton administration while terrorism was gaining ground in Afghanistan. But, fiercely loyal to his brother, he has even paid for that. Currently managing a difficult coalition in a quandary of political interests that often resorts to harassment, have left him with increased signs of weariness as his challenges now build.
Coming from business, Sharif brothers have enterprise approach to governance with quick decisions that are result oriented. For Shabaz Sharif, this means hands on and fewer people –in different situations it works better. Again, at a broader level, Punjab is the major province where the entire national apparatus sits in the capital that cannot function in isolation. Here, the problem seems as one of credibility, as exacerbated by conflicting role of the Punjab governor.
Lost support in other provinces, Mr. Nawaz Sharif can go long way in restoring his leadership potential by convincing his party on the direction to win next election than its sitting by under a rudderless leadership. This means hard choices and abandoning fixation with the past just as irrational fears of the army which is doing fine.
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