PML-N's anti-PTI stance faces internal criticism

Some leaders believe ruling party should focus on reforms; stop Imran bashing

LAHORE:

While the federal and provincial governments of the PML-N seem obsessed with Imran Khan’s PTI, using every opportunity to push their beleaguered arch-rival further against the wall, a section within the ruling party believes that the PML-N should adopt a more mature strategy.

Talking to The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity, two PML-N leaders—a sitting MNA and a former member of Shehbaz Sharif’s team—disagreed with the anti-PTI approach that their party has adopted.

The lawmaker said the PML-N is going all out for the establishment but “history teaches us that the establishment works for its own interests and is pretty ruthless in achieving its goals."

He said that the PTI would eventually come back into power, “but when this happens, what would the PML-N do?”

“Since the PML-N is in government, it should adopt a more progressive policy, focus on reforms, and be a party of the future, not of the past.”

He said going after the PTI can be part of its policy, but it should not be its only policy, adding that right now all media interactions of the PML-N leaders are about the PTI and its former chief Imran Khan.
He said the PML-N needs to have a finger on the public pulse. “People are not with us, and it has everything to do with our bad media optics,” he said.

According to the lawmaker, if only the PML-N government focuses on bringing real reforms, the PTI’s charm would automatically start waning.

“The PML-N should not risk it all to fight a proxy war for one man. The PML-N can turn the tide in no time, if only it keeps to the business of the state. This impression of the PTI’s persecution at the hands of the government is detrimental,” he added.

The former member of Shehbaz Sharif’s team, who faced jail time during the PTI’s rule, said as per his understanding, the establishment is currently in talks with Imran Khan.

He predicted that Imran Khan will, however, get no relief from courts and will get convicted in the £190 million case as well.

“Later, the establishment will offer Imran Khan an NRO [secret deal] on its terms, which Imran would agree to. This would set off a change in the PML-N’s fortunes.”

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He said the PML-N, as per his understanding, would in such a situation try to revert back to its retaliatory narrative.

“Will its retaliatory narrative find any takers, is for the time to tell. But keeping in mind what can only be described as a circus, the PML-N needs to put in place an exit strategy. The establishment, on the other hand, has very cunningly made the PML-N nail its color to the mast,” he added.

The current strategy

The PML-N led governments are engaged in a relentless charge against PTI and its defunct chief Imran Khan for the party’s alleged anti-establishment rhetoric.

From Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to the party’s second and third-tier leadership, almost the entire PML-N misses no opportunity to castigate the PTI and its founder.

Recently, a post from Imran’s official X account about Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Fall of Dhaka brought more legal troubles for the former PTI chief.

The Punjab government, during its cabinet meeting, approved prosecuting Imran, who has been behind bars for the last year, for drawing parallels between the situation in 1971 and now against the backdrop of highly controversial recent elections.

Interestingly, the PML-N leaders have in the past referred to the 1971 debacle to criticize the role of the military establishment.

Justifying the move, a cabinet member from Punjab said the state is being compelled to go after Imran Khan as the latter is trying to spread hatred and anarchy in Pakistan.

The minister said though they are not a complainant in this case, the recent X post “speaks volumes about the nefarious design of Imran Khan.”

When asked about the PML-N’s references to the Fall of Dhaka, the minister said after a pause that at least the PML-N did not attack military installations.

The minister claimed that Imran Khan still enjoyed “inside support,” owing to which he managed to get an article published in a publication of his choice and got videos published on his social media handle.
Asked what was the crime in getting an article published or, for that matter, getting a video posted via some social media manager and asked to specify what law prohibited this, the minister instead of answering the question, said these liberties denied Imran’s claims that he was not being allowed to meet people in jail.

The minister said Imran Khan meets at least eight people every day. “He has inside support,” he added.
When asked to specify if “inside support” meant the support of the establishment, the minister quickly clarified that by that he meant the support of the judiciary.

When asked what power the judiciary had to help Imran Khan, especially in jail, which is under the government or the establishment’s control, the minister again instead of answering this straightforward question said, “The court verdicts and observations prove that the judiciary is favoring Imran.”