Nawaz and Shahbaz are on the same page: Mushahid

There is only one narrative of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), that the establishment is working against its re-election, however the approach is different with Nawaz Sharif along with his daughter taking a confrontational approach while party president Shahbaz Sharif leading a non-confrontational approach. This was the outcome of an anecdotal survey carried out by Business Recorder.
PML-N central information secretary Senator Mushahidullah Khan told Business Recorder on Saturday that Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif are on the same page and have already announced that they would approach the public against the verdict in the Avenfield case.
"The verdict is part of the conspiracy against Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, but these tactics have failed in the past and are going to fail now too," he said, adding that both Nawaz and Maryam will return to Pakistan soon and face prison.
Mushahidullah said some forces are bent upon destroying the party's vote bank by forcing loyalists to change loyalties but added that "this is not going to work".
Nawaz Sharif is being punished for bringing massive Chinese investment, turning Pakistan into a nuclear state and not bowing down before the military establishment, he said.
"Some political parties are playing into the hands of foreign forces who are not happy with huge Chinese investment in the country as part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor," he said, "this is the reason Nawaz Sharif was penalized as he refused to accept any dictation."
Mushahidullah Khan said the slogan of the party "give respect to the vote" is gaining popularity in the public and both Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif have one motto: "Parliament is supreme and all other institutions are subservient to the legislature."
He said the party has not organised major protests as part of its strategy, adding that otherwise the powers-to-be would arrest all of them and put them behind bars.
"Tens of thousands of our workers will reach the airport to receive their leader Nawaz Sharif the day he returns to Pakistan," he said adding that the party has been deliberating on when Nawaz Sharif would return and it was decided that "he (Nawaz Sharif) will return to Pakistan in a week."
A spokesman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said his party is a mature political party and does not react hastily on such matters (the verdict against Nawaz Sharif) like the PML-N and PTI.
"Nawaz Sharif celebrated the ouster of Yousuf Raza Gilani and approached Supreme Court on the so-called Memogate scandal, but he repented later," he said, "we want all political parties to show magnanimity for the sake of our teething democracy."
Rasul Bukhsh Rais, political analyst, said Nawaz Sharif and his party are in serious trouble now and there are more serious troubles for him ahead.
He said if Nawaz Sharif returns home quickly to face the courts and possible prison term, his party may benefit from the sympathy vote, but added that "it was a major mistake on the part of Nawaz Sharif and his daughter to initiate confrontation with military and judiciary."
He said cracks within the party have already become visible with a large number of defections to rival PTI and this will dent the PML-N in the elections.