NEW DELHI – Consider Sharif’s remarks in his interview to Pakistani daily*Dawn*, which triggered an diplomatic maelstrom: “Militant organisationsare active. Call them non-state actors. Should we allow them to cross theborder and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Why can’t we complete the trial?”

It’s pertinent to note that the three-time prime minister has made thisembarrassing remark for his country at a time he is being hounded from allsides, particularly the judiciary, and neither the political establishmentnor the powerful military has come to his help.

In April, Pakistan Supreme Court disqualified him for life from holding anypublic office for failing to declare his assets while being the primeminister, a measure which came just two months after the Pakistani apexcourt disqualified him as presidentlink>ofthe ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The February 2018 order ofthe Supreme Court ruled that all decisions taken by Sharif as the partychief stood “null and void”.

Sharif’s condition is akin to a cat trapped inside a room with all exitssealed and stick-wielding people coming after the hapless animal. In such asituation the cat invariably pounces at the attacker’s face to escape.

Sharif too appears to have done that. Being a seasoned politician andthree-time premier, Sharif cannot be unmindful of the consequences of hisremarks for his country’s image internationally.

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This may be part of Nawaz Sharif’s conscious and deliberate strategy aimedat his domestic constituency. He is probably sending a signal to thepolitical and military establishments to intervene and stop his”persecution” before it is too late.

It remains to be seen if Sharif gets some substantive relief in the comingdays as Pakistan is due to hold its next general election later this year.If no such thing happens, Sharif may further up the ante and come up withmore embarrassing statements which name and shame Pakistan.

Expectedly, Sharif’s remarks have roiled the political waters withinPakistan. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairperson Imran Khan pounced upon theopportunity and criticised Sharif for speaking against Pakistan’ssovereignty, saying the ex-PM has joined hands with foreign forces forpersonal gains. Khan even trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modilink>inlambasting Sharif and said Sharif was speaking the language of PM Modi tosave the Rs 300 billion that he has concealed under the names of his sons’offshore companies. – India O

By: Rajeesh Sharma