This is apropos a Business Recorder op-ed "Whither is the Nawaz League bound?" carried by the newspaper yesterday. The writer, Saida Fazal, has argued that "meanwhile, the question agitating the minds of his party men is this, who is to lead them into the general elections due in a few months time? Most like to see Shahbaz Sharif in that role, despite his brother's resistance. At some point Mian Sahib might be compelled to make that change. But then they could be left grappling with another quandary if the NAB decides to proceed with the Hudaibiya Paper Mills money laundering case. Shahbaz Sharif is one of the principal accused in it. The previous NAB chief had kept sitting on the case despite the apex court's directive to initiate proceedings. His successor could decide to open it. That would put paid to the second Sharif's political future, leaving the Nawaz Leaguers in the lurch."
The foregoing suggests that the PML-N is nearing its demise. Although the battle between multiple competing forces in the country is assuming apocalyptic propositions, the PML-N still has a future insofar as Punjab is concerned. While the Chaudhris of Gujrat pose little or no threat to the Sharifs in the largest province of the country, Imran Khan is still required to cover a lot of ground to lay claim to the Takht-e-Lahore; he still has many miles to go. One must not lose sight of the fact that dynastic rule has its own value and romance in politics in South Asia.
The op-ed writer seems to be overly dismissive of PML-N's prospects in the 2018 general elections.
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