PML-N to soft-pedal 'civilian supremacy'

Civilian supremacy should and hopefully would be redefined now to include respect for state institutions as well, a party office-bearer who is a member of the manifesto sub-committee said, to bring the party’s slogan of civilian supremacy in line with the existing party policy.

The PML-N finds itself grappling with the perception of being labelled the 'king's party,' a stigma they are eager to dispel. Initially attempting to counter these accusations by saying that only wrongs were being righted.
However, the party's explanations found no buyers given the perceived favouritism and exclusive concessions doled out to it.

Addressing allegations of cosying up to the establishment, the party has defended Nawaz Sharif as being a blue-eyed figure, not of the establishment, but of the people. Recent attempts by the PML-N to form alliances and attract influential figures, including those perceived as products of the establishment’s hatchery, have again brought the allegations of being the new ‘selected’.

To that allegation, the party said that its outreach to the electables and regional parties and vice versa was the trust and faith that people had in Nawaz Sharif’s leadership. A party member, speaking on the request of anonymity, acknowledged that there was a need for his party to shake off the impression of being anti-establishment.

Read Fight for civilian supremacy?

He said that given that his party was now on a same-page equation, there was a need to redefine its definition of civilian supremacy. He noted that civilian supremacy should in no way be translated as an effort by the elected government to weaken their own state institutions, adding that civilian supremacy meant respect for institutions and their legal ambits.

Even prior to that, he said that civilian supremacy should first include strengthening the civilian institution and doing capacity building, which meant legislators should be taught the basics of law-making. The official said that as per his understanding party instead of civilian supremacy should prioritise the slogan of constitutional supremacy.

How will that work, given the slew of constitutional violations that are being committed to ensuring a smooth passage for PML-N, he contesting this notion of any violation for PML-N, said that party will figure something out. Regarding the manifesto committee, he said that it would be a zero-sum exercise with no meaningful outcome.

He shared that a new paragraph in the existing manifesto, at best, reading how glorious the times were during PML-N, 13-17 tenure. He said that the only thing people wanted that might create a difference was the party’s economic road that the party had promised on Nawaz's return. But thus far, there seems to have come up with nothing.