Is PML-N playing double game?

ISLAMABAD: A news item on late Saturday was source of joy for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters. That their party will not vote for the amendment in Army Act, triggered excitement among them. On social media, those who had trolled the party leadership for extending “unconditional support” were being trolled.

The ones who remained steadfast in their loyalty during the clouds of doubts thought their stand was vindicated about the leadership’s uncompromising stand on “vote ko izzat do” slogan. But they were mistaken. The news that made them ecstatic was wrong, to begin with. It was factually accurate but on late Friday. The party had taken U-turn by the time the ecstatic news reached to the supporters.

For backgrounder, Mian Nawaz Sharif had sent a message to Khawaja Asif on Friday evening that PML-N wouldn’t support the bill if the legislative procedure was completed in haste. He was asked to convey this in unequivocal terms to the government. This was a follow-up to the letter he earlier shot to Khawaja Asif on Friday morning in a damage control exercise as resentment deepened among the party’s support base over the announcement of “unconditional support” to the amendment bill. In the letter, Nawaz had proposed a time-frame for detailed deliberation of the bill by concerned committees of both houses followed by debate and subsequent approval that should not occur before January 15 because “we cannot possibly allow the dignity of the Parliament to be compromised….Parliament should not be seen to rubber-stamp a bill of such importance.” The message he dispatched later on was aimed to re-emphasise that vote in favour of the amendment will be conditional with the honouring of legislative steps prescribed in his letter. That PML-N will not vote for the bill if this procedure was not followed, Nawaz declared. As it was conveyed to the government, it refused to abide by these instructions and set a deadline of coming Wednesday to approve the bill from both houses of Parliament.

Instead of keeping its word of not voting the bill due to failing in fulfilment of its demand, the PML-N readily conceded to the government’s time-frame and sent the following text to party lawmakers to ensure attendance next week. “Schedule for passage of Army Act Amendment Bill is extended to Wednesday; this includes both houses and standing committees,” reads a message sent to PML-N MNAs. Going by the government schedule means that the leading opposition party has backed out from the stand its top leadership took that they would not participate in voting if the passage is done before January 15. Party leaders have their own explanation. “At least, we have been able to drag this process for a week instead of letting it pass within 48 hours,” said one of them. Asked what was the point of taking a hard-line that the party wouldn’t vote if the conditions prescribed in the letter go un-implemented, he said that is matter of the past. “I am telling you the latest position,” he said.

Another face-saving strategy is being adopted to appease the angry members in and outside the assembly, it has been learnt. While majority of members will vote for the amendment, some of them may abstain from the process as a mark of protest. If that happens, it may hoodwink the probing eyes and rather create an impression that party is split on the matter as hardliners have followed Nawaz Sharif’s instructions and pragmatic lot in Shahbaz Sharif camp have disregarded this.

Earlier, confusion was witnessed on the point of “unconditional support” as Khawaja Asif insisted he did as a parliamentary leader what he was conveyed by Mian Nawaz Sharif. He was not wrong in claiming this as decision in this respect was taken in London a month ago when the members of PML-N’s Parliamentary Advisory Group went there for a meeting.

The party’s position was not different on the issue of selecting Chief Election Commissioner. It was under pressure from the powerful quarters to support the candidature of Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad, former secretary of Election Commission of Pakistan, as new CEC. Nawaz Sharif gave a go-ahead to Khawaja Asif. As he conveyed his decision to the parliamentary party, he faced a lot of opposition much like he did on the issue of unconditional support on the amendment bill.

In both cases, decision was made by the top leadership and on both occasions, damage control efforts were made in the face of pressure from within but no significant change was made. In both cases, top leadership went unaccounted for, whereas second tier leaders were caught up in the eye of storm. This left one wondering as if the PML-N is playing a double game? If yes, is it with supporters or with powerful players. More so because all those participating in this game have been implicated in one or another case. Shahbaz Sharif is said to be taking care of court matters. Those in jail are advised to remain silent during the court’s appearance as he is working for their release.