Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has once again chosen the platform of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to stage a showdown against the government and its allies. Spokesperson for the party say it will use all available options, including mass mobilisation through rallies, in its efforts to topple the government.

The PML-N has been under pressure for a while on account of losses in the Azad Kashmir general elections and the Sialkot by-election as well as the issue of Nawaz Sharif’s stay in the UK. Nawaz Sharif, however, has apparently lost none of his fighting spirit. He has now requested Shahbaz Sharif and Maulana Fazlur Rehman to re-energise the Pakistan Democratic Movement, which has been inactive following the exit of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Awami National Party (ANP). There is no doubt that Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif have different perspectives or ‘narratives’ on national politics. The former insists on empowering civilian supremacy and no interference by military establishment while the latter seems to believe that the military establishment is a part and parcel of the ruling elite and must be accommodated in any power sharing scheme for the country.

Recently, some spokespersons for the government – including some leading federal ministers – tried to strengthen the impression that the two have developed serious differences and that Shahbaz may part ways with his elder brother. However, the PDM summit in Islamabad on August 7 dispelled the impression about the state of differences within the PML-N and has boosted the spirits of its supporters. Both PML-N supporters and critics may have been surprised to see the party president Shahbaz Sharif and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the meeting listening to Maryam and Nawaz Sharif over a video link.

According to reports, Nawaz spoke about motivating people against the government but did not mention the military establishment. It is not clear yet if Nawaz has budged on that account, or whether Shahbaz agrees with him or not. It appears that if Shahbaz Sharif can strike a deal with the establishment, Nawaz will not object to it. It also appears, however, that Shahbaz has not quite succeeded and that the establishment is still putting its weight behind the PTI government.

The government and semi-official observers have sought recently to reinforce the impression that the PTI is currently the most popular party in the country despite the failures of its government on several fronts and that it can win the next elections. For his part, if Shahbaz Sharif is disappointed with the lack of cooperation by the establishment, he has not expressed it publicly.

Nawaz Sharif announced in a series of tweets last week that he would continue his struggle for democracy, saying, “This struggle is not just to win a few seats, but to free ourselves from the unconstitutional pressures.”

However, Shahbaz Sharif remained silent. He has now attended the PDM summit, also attended by Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz. This gives the impression that Shahbaz does not intend to part ways with his brother. Imran Khan’s confidence and the enthusiastic statements of the government representatives are a clear indication of their conviction that they will win the next elections. The political history of Pakistan since 1977 points in another direction. No political party has so far won two consecutive terms at the federal level.

The latest PML-N strategy vis a vis the PDM is multi-faceted. It wants the alliance to motivate activists and try to bring the government and powerful quarters under pressure. It might surprise everybody and accept the PPP offer to move no-confidence motions against Prime Minister Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. The ultimate goal is to deny the PTI a victory in the next elections. To this end, the PML-N may go to any length in seeking a seat adjustment with the JUI-F, the Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, the National Party, the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) an the Awami National Party in KP and the PPP in Sindh and the Punjab.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has recently reiterated his offer about a no-confidence move in the National and Punjab Assemblies. PML-N Punjab president Rana Sana Ullah has said, “We can think about it if the PPP shows us the required strength in the National Assembly and Punjab Assembly. Another factor that cannot be ignored is the establishment support to the PTI. Can such motions succeed when powerful circles try to foil them?”

PPP stalwart Qamar Zaman Kaira says, “If some powerful quarters are seen resisting the no-confidence motion, should we give up? By that logic, we should not even contest elections against the PTI.”

A PML-N insider tells TNS, “Most of the party leaders did not entirely agree with Nawaz’s narrative but they are too loyal to him to leave. They realize that the party’s vote bank belongs to Nawaz Sharif. Whoever leaves will meet a fate similar to Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.”

As far as the question of Nawaz Sharif’s visa is concerned, he may get an extension on moving an appeal in UK.

The writer is a senior journalist, teacher of journalism, writer and researcher. He tweets at @BukhariMubasher