Political analysts say PML-N, JUI-F having ‘rude awakening’

Political observers have said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties, especially the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), were having a “rude awakening” as they struggle to muster voters’ support ahead of the February 8 general elections.

“They thought that the PTI had become a thing of the past. They thought the PTI had been erased from the political arena for good, but now they are having a rude awakening. They see that voters are supporting the one who they had banished from politics,” said Naveed Hussain, Chief Editor of The Express Tribune, while speaking in the Express News political talk-show, “Experts”, moderated by anchor Dua Jamil.

He was responding to a question regarding the statements of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PML-N’s Javed Latif who insinuated that the PTI was getting widespread sympathies due to the ongoing crackdown on its leaders and election candidates, especially in Punjab.

Hussain believed that the 16-month performance of the PDM government is a nightmare that will haunt them in the election. “People have forgotten the performance of PTI’s three-and-a-half years’ rule, while the memories of PDM’s terrible government are still fresh,” he said.

Read more: Political analysts foresee political chaos if election is stage-managed

Using a cricket analogy, Hussain described the PDM's tactics, stating, "They [PDM parties] want a fixed match. First, they asked for putting the kaptaan of the rival team behind bars; then they demanded the pitch be made to their liking; then they said players of the rival team should also be taken off the field. And now when they realise that they can still not win, they are trying to uproot the wickets.”

Ayaz Khan, Group Editor at Daily Express, criticised the “defeatist mindset” reflected in such statements, saying that both Latif and Maulana Fazl were very close to PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif.

"For some time, there has been talk of Nawaz Sharif going back to London because he couldn’t live up to the expectations. And now, he himself does not see his expectations fulfilled," Khan said. "The more relief the PTI gets, the harder it will be for the rest of the parties," he added.

Khan also advised the PML-N leadership against demanding an investigation into the May 9 rioting. “If an investigation takes place, there are chances that you too will also be caught in it because the home minister at the time [Rana Sanaullah] has publicly admitted more than once that we allowed it to happen, that means, you were facilitating it,” he added.

Khan disagreed with the assertion that the majority of PTI candidates have successfully filed their nomination papers for the upcoming elections. He asserted,

"Lesser-known PTI candidates are the ones who have been granted the opportunity to submit their papers, while the nominations of prominent party politicians have been unjustly intercepted,” he asserted.

Khan attributed the situation to Nawaz Sharif, placing blame on him for orchestrating the installation of the entire administration in Punjab under his influence. He expressed scepticism, stating, "I have no doubt that they also report to him."

"Amir Ilyas Rana, Express News Bureau Chief in Islamabad, sought to trivialise the sudden salvo of criticism against the PTI. “Politicians always engage in a blame game. Bilawal and PML-N will also do so,” he said.

“No politician should ever be mistreated. If a crime is committed, then you punish [the culprit] not push him,” he said while referring to the manhandling of former foreign minister and PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi at Adiala Jail. He said that it was high time all politicians gave up the blame game and worked for national reconciliation to steer the country out of crises.

Faisal Hussain, Express News Bureau Chief in Karachi, raised concerns about the impartiality of elections, saying that the elections had become a challenge for the entire country and its system. “It has also become a challenge for our political parties and institutions. Everybody is fighting to satisfy their inflated ego,” he added.

Mohammad Ilyas, Express News Bureau Chief in Lahore, advised PDM parties to focus on winning voters instead of making accusations, emphasising, "The talk of fixing the match should be over now."