ISLAMABAD- A few days ago, PML-N President and Opposition Leader in theNational Assembly hosted a sumptuous dinner for the PDM leaders, with themain target of persuading the PPP and the ANP to rejoin the eight-month-oldopposition alliance that had been set up to oust the PTI government.

After the dinner, the media reported that although the PPP and the ANP hadjoined the dinner, though not through the real invitees, those whorepresented their respective parties had sought time to take a decision onbecoming a part of the opposition’s coalition once again.

Both these parties had parted ways with the PDM after they had been issuedshow-cause notices by the alliance secretary-general – Shahid Khakan Abbasi– for pursuing policies inconsistent with the alliance policy.

At a party meeting, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tore the show-causenotices into pieces and parted ways with the PDM, asserting that he was notanswerable to anyone except his own party. This dealt a serious blow to theopposition bloc as the PPP was its second largest constituent.

The “volcanic” reaction established beyond doubt that the PPP was leastinterested in rejoining the alliance, which it had conceived and launchedfor riddance from the PTI government.

The ANP also took a similar decision, after which the PML-N and the JUI-Fwere the only major parties left in the PDM.

However, on Tuesday PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawazlink caused serious embarrassmentto her uncle Shehbaz Sharif link whenshe said that the dinner hosted by the PML-N president had nothing to dowith the PDM’s politics.

As for the possibility of the PPP returning to the PDM’s fold, she said theparty should first answer the show cause and then the matter of themrejoining the alliance would be looked into.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former prime minister and vice president of thePML-N, said the PDM’s doors have been closed for the PPP and in case it wasre-inducted in the alliance, the coalition would have to look for a newsecretary general, a post being held by him at present.

This was a clear message that Shehbaz Sharif’s efforts to persuade the PPPor the ANP back into the alliance were not tolerable for him.

His stand on the subject was similar to that of Maryam. And this is not thefirst time similarity of thought between Maryam and Khaqan has beenwitnessed.

While Mian Nawaz Sharif and Maryam have the same opinion on all matters,Shahid Khaqan is a true follower of the father and daughter.

Interestingly, PDM President Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s stance about thepossibility of the PPP and the ANP returning to the alliance’s fold is evenharsher.

He has been quoted as saying that the PPP had torn apart the show cause;now it should piece together the show cause, read it again and come up withan appropriate reply. Otherwise, he made it clear there was no room for thePPP and the ANP in the alliance.

Also, he said the two parties should apologise for taking a hasty decisionon parting ways with the PDM.

At this juncture the question is not whether the PPP and the ANP rejoin thealliance or not; the question is of the status of Mian Shehbaz Shariflink in the PML-N and his say inthe PDM as head of the coalition’s biggest constituent.

As a matter of principle, Shehbaz Sharif’s initiative to bring theestranged PPP and ANP back to the PDM should have been appreciated by allalliance leaders. But he had to face embarrassment at the hands of theparty.

While all others are convinced that Maryam is the real spokesperson of herfather (and Khaqan is a true follower), Bilawal is the only leader who hassaid in unequivocal terms that Shehbaz alone represents the party and thathis opinion would be given weightage.

In view of the above-mentioned facts, Shehbaz Shariflink is passing through asituation that he can’t express his real sentiment in public. Although hedoesn’t agree with the policies of his elder brother, he can’t afford tobring on record his points of disagreement and their reasons. He isconvinced that his elder brother’s thinking will push the party into adarker future, but he can’t dare say it on record.

The PML-N supremo’s latest assertion at a party meeting he addressedthrough video-link that only one narrative should be emphasised will makeit more difficult for Shehbaz to repeat his point of view about politics ofconciliation.

Likewise, his hidden strong desire to make Chaudhry Nisar part of the PML-Nhas been aborted by Maryam, who said while talking to reporters that theleader from Chakri had nothing to do with the party.

Superfluous to point out that every party tries to bring the best peopleinto its fold, while Nisar Ali Khan is not an ordinary being.

But since Nisar is an irritant for Nawaz, Shehbaz in spite of being theparty president, finds himself completely helpless.

In this situation the scope for Shehbaz Shariflink is very narrow. He issupposed to defend the hawkish narrative of his elder brother Nawaz Sharifdespite the fact he himself is a man of conciliation and wants goodrelations with the establishment.

He is just a titular head of the party, while the shots are being called byMaryam.

Not many people remember that Shehbaz Shariflink ad Nisar Ali Khan have beenthe best friends. There was a time when they had decided to work as primeminister and Punjab chief minister, respectively.

However, much water has flown under the political bridges and there islittle possibility of their dream coming true in the foreseeable future.

The former prime minister will like his daughter to don the mantle of primeminister, relegating his younger brother to some other role.

Nisar stands no future unless he joins some important party.

Although he is a good friend of Prime Minister Imran Khan, kinship doesn’tmatter in kingship.

Source:link