Salahuddin Haider
THE air was filled with expectations on the morning of Sept 21, with some of the leading newspapers pinning hopes on its positive outcome from the multi-party conference, but to their utter disappointment opposition exposed their weaknesses, Nawaz Sharif especially, dominated the show with his hour-long speech, but paid a heavy price for that.
Bilawal Bhutto, spent almost a month in arranging it at a 5-star hotel in Islamabad. Him and Asif Zardari spoke. He was naturally happy with the turn out but seemed worried over participation of some of the banned parties like Sipahe Sahaba, Lashkare Jhangavi, whose representatives banked on JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to present a concrete plan for government’s ousted, but were disappointed when the JUI chief’s speech was prevented from being shown live on television.
While a comprehensive outcome of the such a major event, can be available only a week or two, it can be safely assumed that the conference had actually backfired. The government seemed least worried. Prime Minister Imran Khan, had, in fact allowed the live transmission of Nawaz Sharif speech as has been claimed by nearly a dozen cabinet members like Sheikh Rashid, Faraz Shibli, Fawad Chaudhri, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Faisal Vavda etc.
They were happy that the prime minister by allowing the PML (N) supremo to speak his heart out, had exposed himself, and faring poorly with has utterances. Those knowing Nawaz well, or those who had been close to him, know very well that he had developed hatred against army, evidence of which was available with his quarrel with General Waheed Kakar, Jahangir Keramat, and Pervez Musharraf.
Time and again younger brother Shahbaz Sharif tried to men fences, and even took Pervez Musharraf to senior Mian Sharif, who on hospital bed tried to remove misunderstandings between Musharraf and Nawaz, but nothing came out of it.
His speech at the Multi Party conference had obviously hate content, for his remarks that he was less bothered about Imran, but more concerned with those who helped him bring to the power. This was a direct attack on army, and can have serious repercussions. Sheikh Rashid in his post-conference comment in a TV interview was slightly wide of the mark, when he declared Nawaz as a political outcast. But by allowing him to appear on TV, being tough in tone and tenor, Nawaz also destroyed his image. The general public impression was that he was hale and hearty, much more refreshed and healthier than ever before. Such an exposure would naturally make the task of his associates tougher now to defend him pubic. Their apologetic remarks that he was sick, waiting for surgery of block heart arteries, would hardly be valid now. The London Yatra has dome him tremendous good, and now the high court arrest warrants that had already reached the Pakistan High Commission in London, could be pursued far more easily now than before. The British government can easily be convinced that he is absconder and is British media launched campaign of him, his two sons, former finance minister Ishaq Dar of being money launderers, it would become extremely difficult for the above named noon league persons to extend their stay in England.
There can be some legal problems in case of repatriation of Hasan and Hussain Nawaz for being British nationals, but once the court is convinced that Rs 800 crore Avenfield apartments, were purchased from ill-gotten money, the judge too may give a serious hearing to the petition from Pakistan government.
Imran’s decision to let the Nawaz speech be broadcast live on television was a master stroke. Public confidence in army, will obviously be shaken, which will pose new problems for the PML leader, living in London for so long, and avoiding to return home to defend himself from allegations of money laundering, and tosha khan cases.
As for the net outcome of the PPP-led conference, Rana Sanaullah’s statement is sufficient to exposes its weaknesses. Nothing concrete appeared as to how the PTI government can be dislodged. Imran says,, even if they resort to agitation, it may create chaos, but he will not withdraw corruption cases against those who looted and plundered the public money, and damaged the economy to a degree from where its recovery, is not altogether impossible, had definitely become a daunting task. What was the positive outcome of the conference, that is the major question now. Does the opposition has answer to that?
