“Who says the young people are with another party, I see so many young people here, the youngsters are with me,” says Nawaz Sharif.
A peacock spreads his feathers in the manicured lawns of the Raiwind estate, in Lahore. But this is not peacock territory, Raiwind is home to the ‘Lions of Punjab’, the Sharif brothers, who have governed the province for approximately 17 years and now have their sights firmly set on the premiership of the country itself.
Their prey is not proving to be an easy hunt. Facing them is Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan, who has become the symbol of change for many of millions of young voters.
Nawaz Sharif is still leading in the polls, but only by a very slight margin. Inside the luxurious Raiwind estate, the twice former prime minister appears confident.
“Why would I have to make a coalition? I will win enough seats for a comfortable majority,” says Nawaz, when asked if he would prefer a coalition with the PTI or PPP.
Even in the middle of one of his toughest campaigns, Nawaz doesn’t miss a chance to take a swipe at his old arch-rival, Pervez Musharraf. “If I come to power, I will form a commission on Kargil and hold Musharraf and those who assisted him accountable. I believe the army wants to see Musharraf held accountable for all his misdeeds.”
But what of his new rival, the one who keeps challenging him to a live TV debate?
“For a TV debate one must maintain decorum and I am not interested in having a debate with someone who crosses the limits of decency.”
They may never come face to face on TV, but in the last two weeks, neither has missed an opportunity to slam the other in election rallies across Punjab.
And today Nawaz Sharif is headed to yet another jalsa in Okara which, in a telling indicator of the PPP’s strength, is known as ‘mini Larkana’.
At 5:30pm, a helicopter flies him from Raiwind to Okara, where a large crowd has been waiting for over four hours. Young boys hang from tree branches to get a glimpse of the ‘Sher’. But not everyone is there for fun, a few women from behind the security fence scream into the camera, “Will we get a chance to see him? We have no gas in our neighbourhood, can he fix it?” The lack of basic amenities in the last five years is squarely blamed on the federal government, even though under the 18th Amendment power has been devolved to the provinces.
However, this fact escapes his supporters, who along with Nawaz blame the federal government for all that went wrong. It seems that Nawaz wants to continue the family’s hold on Punjab, because earlier he confided that despite Shahbaz Sharif’s eagerness to head the water and power ministry, the party wants to see him continue to hold the post of chief minister.
On the podium, far out of the reach of supporters clutching their request letters, the ‘lion’ roared, “Who says the young people are with another party, I see so many young people here, the youngsters are with me.”
By 7pm, Nawaz is back in his helicopter on his way to Lahore. He looks down onto Punjab, where most of the provincial budget has been spent on infrastructure.
Punjab spent only 11% of its budget on education, compared to 39% in Sindh. The party is also not known for being female-friendly. In one of his rallies he gestured towards a crowd of women saying, “I will give you gas, so that you can make rotis for your husbands, your brothers and your sons.”
The PML-N’s manifesto though, paints a picture of a progressive party that is interested in equality. Yet when asked a serious question on what steps will be taken for the empowerment of women, Mian Sahab gives a blank look and responds ‘What do you suggest?”
His foreign policy is clearer. He says that he will consult the military, but will not allow them to hijack policy. “Final decisions on relations with Afghanistan and India will be taken by political leadership.”
As the sun sets and the helicopter lands in Lahore, it’s clear the battle for Punjab will be a tough one. But what will be tougher will be tackling national issues like economic instability, terrorism, the energy crisis and the Baloch insurgency. And it seems that the man who would be prime minister realises this.
(Watch Munizae Jehangir’s exclusive interview with Nawaz Sharif on Thursday at 7pm on Express News)
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2013.
COMMENTS (20)
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EXCUSES, EXCUSES AND MORE EXCUSES
He's clever. He knows Imran Khan will wipe the floor with him. To let people know, Nawaz Sharif doesn't do any liver interviews too. Scared much? What has he got to hide?
A live debate is good for democracy, A step in the right direction.
Disappointed. Wanted to see a debate. As they say, truth will out, and he knows that.
TWO WORDS : Tsunami terror
Helicopter flying him around while the rent-a-crowd waits for four hours.
PML (N) has the most sensible leadership and have delivered in past. Their credibility in ME is very strong which will be vital for resolving energy issues. People generally talk on opinions whereas we should talk on things which are visible to common man. They have done such great things for Pakistan in 2 short tenures (besides the things which are done in last 4 years) which no one has been able to do:
New licenses to Banks where millions of people work today and banking has progressed Fiber Optic Motorway Nuclear state We used to get 130 pak rupees for 100 Inidan rupees
None of the cases have been made by any of the governments which ruled subsequent to them People today talk wrong and misleading things and population of Pakistan belives them with confirming the facts. This is what the misery is for the people of Pakistan. They donot confirm the facts before relying and then later they are penalised.
People should never go for the party who critize the right things as well. This gives an impression that they are not patriotic for Pakistan but their love is for the seat of prime minister.
My lion and leader is Imran Khan.... I would like my kids to be like IK... if your leader is Nawaz Sharif and you want your kids like him then please go ahead and vote for him.... If you think you dont want your kid like NS then please sit back and think and vote wisely :)
@Falcon
Sorry, I don't tweet :)
These guys are the only ones who would be able to make a difference to the country. Rest wouldn't be able to do anything i.e. PTI, PPP, ANP etc since they dont have that much influence and political prowess which is what Pakistan needs right now instead of new parties filled with people wanting to stretch their horizons and test their political ambitions. We cannot let Pakistan be a testing ground for such experiments at this crucial stage.
"a few women from behind the security fence scream into the camera, “Will we get a chance to see him? We have no gas in our neighbourhood, can he fix it?”
Wrong question!!! Our women should be asking him: "How do you sleep at night, knowing so many people go to sleep without any food, electricity goes out in some places in Punjab for 16 hours at a time, and you do not pay any taxes???? On May 11 our people will get a chance to change their situation, to get out of their misery, and to get schools which would have roof over the classrooms and teachers to teach the students. Things will not change overnight, but we need to take the baby step, that first step, to make a change by kicking out the ones we have tried and tested before and our condition has worsen.
i m confused ET peacock or lion....???
This is not a vote for a political party, this a vote for the survival of Pakistan. Voting for PMLN, PPP or PTI is not a matter of how good their policies are, it is a matter of whether Pakistan will be left to rot or whether we want a new and improved Pakistan. . Here in Australia, people discuss political parties' manifestos because the difference between one party to the other is 'policies' or the 'direction the country should take', which eventually have an effect on the economical well being of the citizens. . Here in Pakistan, I find it absolutely absurd to discuss the party manifestos of various political parties, because all manifestos apart from PTI's represent hollow slogans. The reason is that they are in stark contrast to the Parties' performance in the last 5 years. . The difference in candidates, for example, is so stark that merely holding a debate between them is absurd. PTI is fielding youth, educated, under privileged and middle class citizens. PMLN and PPP are fielding criminals, feudals and businessmen. How can these two parties be compared? The answer is they can't. . A vote for PTI is a vote for Pakistan, simple. .
@John the Baptist: Are u on Twitter? If so, what is your twitter username?
This one is hilarious!!!..."when asked a serious question on what steps will be taken for the empowerment of women, Mian Sahab gives a blank look and responds ‘What do you suggest?”
"Yet when asked a serious question on what steps will be taken for the empowerment of women, Mian Sahab gives a blank look and responds ‘What do you suggest?”"
Lol! Well, I am not surprised. Their list of priorities about men is so wrong, what can you expect from them when it comes to women. After all, they are the same people who think metro bus is more important that providing medical facilities for people in the government hospitals in Punjab. Mice have bitten infants and people have died from fake medicine. They are incorrigible and if people want to save themselves and the country they better not vote for these inept rulers again.
PTI will sweep take that!
Next Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The tribune has clearly been sold. I have spotted the change in reporting over the past two weeks. How silly.
I wonder about the agreement of Charter of Democracy between PPP and PMLN. It’s noticeable that PPP wanted to give a robbery turns to PMLN. PPP is not interested to fight in the election with PMLN. Perhaps to keep the agreement of Charter of Democracy unharmed.
PML(N)'s majority government is a must for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan. Please don't vote to elect blackmailers and their new allies.
Wow, can't believe it but reading this article, I am convinced that ET has sensed the winds of change and to hedge its bets, has tried to be a bit PTI friendly. Welcome to the light. All you have to do is end your tax "holiday" and pay your fair share of taxes to build a Naya Pakistan for your children and ours too. I know it pinches a bit in the purse but take the leap of faith--in ten years, instead of going to desolate Dubai, your family will go for vacations to five star hotels in peaceful and pristine northern areas. No visa, no slave treatment, no rip offs! Build one of the most beautiful lands on this planet (I have seen 70% of the world and what I have not seen is not worth seeing) and have a good life. Just be honest and pay taxes, that is all!
I have one word for this man, 'Performance'. Or lack of it, in the last 17 years.