Reading newspapers in the morning, surfing social media, or watching news channels, one is presented with the idea that our political elite regardless of their affiliations, are plunderers, and on this account, we the people are their acolytes as we voted to place them in the house of power. The public is confused and the emphasis seems to be on determining who is ‘Mr Clean’ or otherwise. Actors on both sides of the political divide are pelting the other with the same stone, ‘corruption’. The prime target is personal gains and targeting each other in mud-slinging matches instead of devoting energies to working for the welfare for the masses. One can say that the kings on both sides have no clothes.

Our accountability institutions are responsible for this mindset or approach among the masses as their focus is witch-hunting instead of fair play.

The way the National Accountability Bureau is dealing with corruption makes it seem that its prime target is opposition instead of curbing corruption. Following the set criteria by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of probing corruption cases, three former chairpersons of the NAB should be behind the bars in the Broadsheet case. The Broadsheet case has stigmatised our already criticised accountability and governance system.

The government, the NAB, and the opposition seem to be on the same page on this account; instead of a fair probe they are interested only in hurling allegations against one another in assigning blame for this scandal. Politically, we are accounted as a confused nation, considering we are the product of a system with the worst aspects both of democracy and authoritarianism.

The oarsmen in Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)’s galley are trying to propel it in different directions. Except for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the PDM is on one page.

There is no doubt that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has been the major beneficiary of the PDM activities. The politics of confrontation suit the party. The obvious reason for its position is that at present it has nothing at stake. The PPP has Sindh government. Jamiat Ulema e Islam (JUI) is also in a situation similar to the PML-N. The PPP leaders realise that if the PDM succeeds, they would get no more than the Sindh government. So, they are moving with extra caution. Whenever they try to deviate from it, the establishment issues warning beeps like the National Accountability (NAB)’s reference against Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and more inquiries against Faryal Talpur and Azra Pechohu. It seems that the establishment has concluded that the PPP and Sindh are corelative. The reason is that so far none of its plans to oust the PPP from Sindh have met success.

Recently, Bilawal Bhutto caused a stir by proposing a no-confidence motion to dislodge the present regime. The rest of the PDM took it as a major blow to their joint opposition’s stand. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was the first to oppose this proposal. Nawaz Sharif too has rejected it at the PDM heads’ meeting in Lahore. Abbasi has said he will oppose the proposal at the next meeting of the heads and urge all the PDM components not to make such statements on already-settled issues.

As January 31st comes knocking on the door, the PDM doesn’t seem to have met its deadline for tendering resignations from the parliament. They have no option but to extend the date at the next meeting of PDM heads.

Nawaz Sharif has shared his concerns with Maulana Fazal-Ur Rahman over the PPP’s proposal of a no-confidence move. However, when the Maulana conveyed his worries to Asif Zardari, he was confident about the no confidence proposal. He indicated that he had been in touch with Jehangir Tareen, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and some PTI dissidents. According to their plan, they will hit the Punjab first, then Balochistan and ultimately Islamabad. The Maulana has decided to refer the matter to PDM head’s meeting.

Prime Minister Imran Khan rarely tackles issue politically, but currently he is paying heed to the PDM’s threat of a no-confidence move and the possible defections from the PTI and its allies. Apart from the Chaudhrys of Gujrat, the Jehangir Tareen group has been identified as a threat in the Senate elections and in a possible no-confidence move. There have been suggestions 45 PTI MPAs might defect to the PML-Q in the Senate elections. Judging the situation, the prime minister has sent Brig Ejaz Shah (retired) to meet Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudry Parvez Elahi and offered him a Senate seat in exchange for cooperation over the upcoming local bodies elections. Chaudhry Parvez Elahi is reported to have asked for Gujranwala division, Attock, Chakwal, Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur districts. However, PTI circles have expressed strong resentment over the proposal.

Sources in the PTI say that after the Senate election, there will be a push to shift to the presidential form of government.

Prime Minister Imran Khan seems to be in a difficult position on the political front judging by the activity in the PDM and mishandling of the political front by his aides. He is having marathon meetings with parliamentarians and listening to their grievances. He has assured them that development funds at their disposal shall be raised from Rs 15 million to Rs 50 million each.

Imran Khan is also putting in a great amount of effort to bridge the gap between him and the parliamentarians. He must be missing Jehangir Tareen.

As January 31st comes knocking on the door, the PDM doesn’t seem to have met its deadline for tendering resignations from the parliament. They have no option but to extend the date at the next meeting of the PDM heads.

Upcoming Senate elections are also going to test Imran Khan’s skills. The PDM seems to expect smooth sailing on this account as they are contesting Senate elections together. However, Khan may have to choose between awarding tickets to non-elected elites in the cabinet and preferring old PTI workers to lower the temperature within the party. There are clues that the elite capture will get mkore pronounced.

The first battlefield ahead for the opposition as well as the government is the Senate elections. The results will determine the future of the political climate in Pakistan, resignations or a long march. Wait and see.

The writer is a veteran journalist and a political analyst. He can be reached at shafiqawan@gmail.com