*ISLAMABAD – Senior e*lements in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)seem in favour of an NRO-like deal.
Although, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif denied the possibility of an NRO(National Reconciliation Ordinance) -like deal, he has not denied havingbeen in “talks with power centres”.
Shehbaz, his son Hamza and leaders close to the former Punjab chiefminister favoured relegating Sharif to the backstage in politics,background discussions with informed insiders in the PML-N suggest.
“The hostility with state institutions is not going to subside as long asMian sahib keeps calling the shots,” said a PML-N senator, wishing not tobe named, closely associated with the Shehbaz camp.
“We have to wait for an ‘opportune time’ until tensions between our partyand state institutions – such as the judiciary and the securityestablishment – are defused,” he said.
Meanwhile, members in the Nawaz camp see such reconciliatory moves by theShehbaz group as an attempt to sideline the former PM at the expense ofpromoting his younger brother, Shehbaz.
“There are some powerful party members, especially in Punjab and even atthe Centre, who think that Shehbaz can fill Mian sahib’s shoes if thelatter goes backstage. This hardly seems to be happening. Shehbaz has sofar failed to capture the party or boost PML-N’s vote bank. This is evidentfrom our party’s defeat in the general election,” said a senior partyleader, who also wished not to be named.
“Reconciliatory efforts are aimed at giving Shehbaz political space tosecure PML-N’s reins but this is costing the party dearly. Reconciliatorystrategy will further deplete and deteriorate our vote bank, weakening theparty.”
Sources close to the former PM insisted that confrontation was the onlyoption left for Sharif after he was disqualified in the Panamagate case.
“His political career has come to an abrupt end. Even if he [Sharif] agreesto strike a deal, leave jail and go abroad … This will only result in hispolitical annihilation and humiliation. Politically, Sharif has nothing tolose (right) now. Retreat is not an option.”
The PML-N insiders said that the possibility of striking a “deal with thesecurity establishment” was discussed during meetings between the twoSharifs at Adiala Jail.