Sharif keeping ‘justice movement’ trump cards to himself

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leadership may haveannounced launching the “movement for justice” but the party rank andfile are clueless about related modalities.So far, neither PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif nor any of his associates haveunveiled the specifics about the movement, which the former primeminister announced to launch last week in Lahore.Some PML-N circles believe that Sharif’s announcement to launch themovement against the judiciary would prove to be no more than apolitical statement because of its controversial nature and the internalunease the party leadership faces over the issue.Behind-the-scenes discussions with senior party leaders suggest thatSharif discussed the issue with senior party leadership, including PrimeMinister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif,and party chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, but he was advised that launchingthe controversial campaign, at a time when the ruling party was facingmultifaceted challenges, would end up harming the party’s standing.Political parties like the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) of Imran Khanand Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of Bilawal Bhutto have alreadyannounced that they are ready to resist the government’s move should itproceed with “defaming” the judiciary.“You don’t launch agitation(s) when you are the government” is thereported view of seasoned PML-N party leaders. “Agitation is aninstrument of the opposition, not the government.”The sources said that the party command has adopted a wait-and-see approach.“There has been no headway,” commented a PML-N lawmaker from Punjab regarding the PML-N’s plan to launch the movement.“It’s better to stay silent instead of inviting unnecessary trouble,” the lawmaker said on the condition of anonymity.The source said that the party leadership fears the lack of public participation in the campaign.“It is so unbecoming of a ruling party to act like an opposition. Whatjustification do we have to get in a confrontational mode in the name ofseeking justice when we are in power at the Centre, in Punjab,Baluchistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan?” heasked.In this context, the sources said, there is a feeling in the party thatSharif’s statement regarding launching the movement for justice wouldmore or less meet a similar fate to that of his announcement regarding acontroversial religious clause change.Not long ago, Sharif had announced forming a committee under the chairof Zafarul Haq with the directions to share its report “within 24 hours”regarding a sudden change in the text of an election law related toreligious beliefs.The report is still awaited despite the passage of more than two months.“Some statements are better kept from implementation. Or else, there arerepercussions,” a party senator said, requesting anonymity.Punjab’s Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, however, denied that the Punjabchief minister had advised the former prime minister against launchingthe movement for justice.“It is the political, democratic and fundamental right of PML-N or anyother political party to launch any movement while staying within theparameters of constitution and rule of law,” he said when contacted.He said that the movement for justice is being “mistaken as an anti-judiciary campaign, which it is not”.Sanaullah said that the movement would highlight the provision of“merit-based” and speedy justice for all without discrimination. “Thereshould be no pick and choose policy in dissemination of justice.”He said that the party leadership has been holding meetings on themodalities of the movement in Lahore, adding that a detailed strategywould be finalised.