A day after Vice President of PML(N) Maryam Nawaz relayed positive signals about possibility of national dialogue, party supremo Mian Nawaz Sharif, while addressing the public meeting in Swat via video link repeated the allegations he hurled against the army leadership during Gujranwala public meeting of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). It is because of this tendency on the part of MNS that Prime Minister Imran Khan is accusing him of trying to create rifts within the defence forces.
The latest narrative of MNS is apparently not acceptable even to his own party-men as there are almost daily reports of growing dissatisfaction among party ranks and file over the line adopted by the top leadership. Several important leaders have already left the party and the continuing rift could harm the party further despite claims by some party leaders that they were better off without turn-coats. It is important to note that Mian Shahbaz Sharif has all along been favouring the politics of reconciliation but he too has been pushed to the wall due to framing of corruption charges against him and his family. In this backdrop, remarks of Maryam Nawaz about dialogue with the army were widely hailed as a sign of rethinking in the party but reiteration of allegations by Nawaz Sharif is negation of this impression. As PDM is about to discuss its overall strategy and sign a new agreement it is hoped that a realistic approach would be adopted towards critical national issues.
