Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) is on the verge of division which is getting clear every passing day and it has become a challenge for Shahbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz to stay in the party.
Various factors have widened the division within the second-largest party in the national assembly (NA).
The absence of PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif from the scene after he absconded to London on the pretext of medical treatment is being considered the top factor.
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Owing to violations of court orders, his speeches were barred from airing on television.
This created a communication gap between him and his followers and parallel narratives started to sprout up in the party.
Meanwhile, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz took over the party as Opposition Leader in NA Shahbaz Sharif, and his son Hamza Shahbaz, Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly, were in jail.
She built a narrative exactly opposite to the reconciliatory model of politics Shahbaz Sharif is known for.
The division got further clear in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections as the whole electioneering was solely conducted by Maryam Nawaz and both opposition leaders remained absent from the scene.
Things further worsened when Maryam retweeted a video on her official Twitter handle on AJK election day in which anti-army slogans were being chanted.
آج تحریک انصاف کی جعلی فتح کے پہلے دن، پہلی بار آزاد کشمیر میں بھی “خود مختار کشمیر” کا نعرہ لگ گیا۔ جب اب لوگوں کے ووٹ پر ڈاکہ ڈالتے ہو، ان پر ظلم کرتے ہو تو اسی طرح کے واقعات جنم لیتے ہیں۔ pic.twitter.com/xQYwJwPSwx
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 26, 2021
The political analysts say that both opposition leaders were long disconcerted by the aggressive mode adopted by Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and they seemingly believe they have no space in PML-N.
It could be backed by the fact that they both also let the budgets of NA and Punjab assemblies sail through easily.
The analysts said Maryam Nawaz has taken relations with the axis of powers to an irreversible extent and it is now a challenge for Shahbaz and Hamza to stay in PML-N.