The success of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's narrative as to the reasons for his disqualification by the apex court in the Panama Papers case is reflected in the electoral victory of the PML-N in recent bye-elections, including in the February 12 Lodhran polls. This was the consensus of party leaders close to Nawaz Sharif who maintained that his narrative "Mujhay Kyon Nikala" has instilled a new spirit among the party workers and supporters.
After winning last month's bye-elections on a provincial seat from Chakwal, the PML-N's relatively less known Iqbal Shah won the February 12 Lodhran bye-election, defeating PTI's Ali Tareen, the son of Jahangir Tareen, on the seat vacated by his father by a big margin.
"The two consecutive victories in the bye-elections indicate Nawaz Sharif's narrative has been accepted by the masses. We will continue this narrative till next general elections and we are hopeful of a thumping victory in general polls as well," said Mian Abdul Manan, a senior PML-N parliamentarian from Faisalabad while talking to Business Recorder.
He said the party is pursuing Nawaz Sharif's narrative, and the entire party is united under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif. "The entire senior leadership is in agreement with Nawaz Sharif's present narrative and believes this narrative should continue," he asserted.
However, in background discussions with other PML-N leaders, including many backbenchers, it was revealed that the continued criticism of judges of the apex court by Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, has 'unnerved' them.
When asked why they still remain in the party, the response was that being in government gives them access to development funds that are currently being released to PML-N parliamentarians. "If we leave now we won't get the funds so this is not the right time to abandon Nawaz. Once the PML-N tenure ends then we will decide our future strategy."
The anti-judiciary speeches of Nawaz Sharif have been criticized by opposition political parties while Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has urged Supreme Court to initiate contempt proceedings against the former premier. Criticizing Sharif for targeting state institutions, senior PPP leader and former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said the disqualified premier is pursuing the politics of confrontation with the state institutions which may compromise the teething democracy.
He said the judges of the higher judiciary need not be defensive with regard to Nawaz Sharif's criticism, adding that the court needs to take notice of the continued attacks on the judiciary under the law. Naveed Chaudhry, a senior PPP leader, said that Nawaz's narrative will lead the country to disaster, adding that the people have nothing to do with the disqualified premier's 'fabricated' description of the court verdict against him.
On winning the recent bye-elections by the PML-N, he said that incumbency factor has always played a key role in bye-elections, adding that the provincial and federal governments have been using resources to influence voters in their favour.
Senior political analyst Rasool Bakhsh Raees while talking to Business Recorder said that Nawaz Sharif, through his narrative, is trying to put pressure on the judiciary. "They [the Sharifs] know that another decision [of the accountability court] is also coming against them and through this narrative Nawaz Sharif is trying to prove himself a victim," he added.
"I think, the PML-N will have to pay the price if its leadership continues this narrative...I don't agree with those who claim that Nawaz Sharif's narrative is working and receiving a positive response," he contended. The incumbency factor plays a vital role in winning bye-elections, Raees stated, adding that in terms of votes the results of bye-election in NA-120, Lahore in fact showed a decline in PML-N's popularity.