Operations in Punjab may undermine PML-N's vote bank

The constituency politics is influencing the ongoing operations in parts of Punjab with Rangers struggling to conduct operations against the affiliates of militants. Sources within Punjab government told Business Recorder that the leadership of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) while having taken the decision to call in the Rangers in the province is nonetheless extremely wary of giving them a carte blanche as that may undermine the party's vote bank in the upcoming general elections of 2018.
There is a widely held perception, strengthened by photographs, that certain PML-N leaders enjoy support of some of the banned outfits, particularly sectarian organizations, and are continuing to provide protection either through misdirection of Rangers and/or giving the outfit advanced warning of a possible raid.
After the February 13, 2017 suicide attack in front of Punjab Provincial Assembly, paramilitary troops were deployed in the province to assist Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) for 60 days on February 22, 2017. They can launch operations on the request of the provincial government and had no special policing powers. Sources within the security establishment told Business Recorder that indiscriminate action is required to rid the province of the banned outfits and their sponsors and the military is aware that the Rangers limited powers will not serve the purpose.
However, they pointed out that along with Rangers' operation in Punjab, an intelligence based operation Radd-ul-Fassad is also underway against all terrorists and their affiliates across the country without any discrimination. According Hassan Askari Rizvi, a senior political analyst, PML-N's main support base is right wing Islamists especially in Punjab and the ongoing operation against these elements would have a negative impact on the vote bank of the ruling party in the 2018 general elections.
"These right wing Islamists are sympathizers of the militants...Definitely, its [PML-N] vote bank will suffer if these elements are targeted in real terms in the ongoing operation...that's why there is ambiguity within PML-N whether to go after these elements or not," he said.
The PML-N proactively opposed a full powered operation by Rangers since long but the situation is different now following a series of attacks and the party is facing immense pressure from the military establishment, Askari added.
"The basic reason for giving limited powers to Rangers is that the PML-N does not want to undermine its vote bank," he added. Afzal Shighri, a security analyst, concurred and stated: "The entire control of the operation is with the provincial government and the paramilitary forces would be required to consult and get approval from the provincial government before taking any action". "The operations by Army and Rangers will provide only temporary relief unless the civilian law enforcing agencies are strengthened," he added.