Najam Sethi claims PDM regime clung to office against establishment’s wishes

Senior journalist and The Friday Times (TFT) founder Najam Sethi claimed that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) regime clung to office against the wishes of the military establishment.

He wrote in the TFT editorial, “The PDM was reluctantly eased into office on the understanding that it would call an immediate general election so that a caretaker regime handpicked by the Miltablishment could take control in the interim, giving time and space to the Miltablishment to sign on the dotted line with the IMF and appoint the next army chief, giving safe passage to the current one and sanctioning a new job for him overseas.”

“Unfortunately, however, when the PDM regime decided to cling to office until next year and made a bid to seize Punjab in order to consolidate itself, the Miltablishment’s plans were threatened.”

“The more unpopular the PDM government became because of the hardship IMF program, the greater the revival of Imran Khan’s prospects of returning to office within the year and exacting his revenge against the current crop of Miltablishment leaders. So the judges rose to deny Punjab to the PDM and encourage Imran Khan to push for new elections.”

Najam Sethi blames military establishment for political, economic uncertainty

He was of the view that the unholy nexus between the Miltablishment and Judiciary that underpinned the hybrid regime of Imran Khan has brought Pakistan to this constitutional and economic impasse. The stage is now set for a new round of innovative engineering of the state system.

If the PDM had opted for fresh elections at the height of Imran Khan’s debacle in April, the result would have yielded a PMLN win or hung parliament that would have enabled the Miltablishment to cobble a hybrid regime once again. But that moment has passed. Khan is rampaging. The PMLN is in disarray without a winning narrative. It is only a matter of time before the PDM regime packs up with a wink and nod.

But the old calculations have also been overturned. So the Caretakers are poised to rescue the Miltablishment. Facilitation by the judiciary is critical to the next stage of this enterprise. A level playing field for the PMLN – enabling Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Sharif to lead their party in the elections –will allow it to put up a good fight and thwart Khan from storming into Islamabad. But if that isn’t possible for one reason or another, the Caretakers may be blessed with a charmed life beyond their expectations!

Critics said that Sethi’s claims regarding the political developments raised many questions as all of them were telling the story of unconstitutional steps. They also questioned the moment the military establishment surrendered before the PDM parties.

They also questioned whether Sethi was pursuing a target after holding meetings with Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif in London. Critics questioned Sethi whether the mentioning of the steps behind the scene on the basis of assumptions will benefit the military establishment or defame it.