Why Nawaz Sharif’s party has toned down its anti-establishment rhetoric in Pakistan

The thunder has gone with the change in narrative. It is no more Pakistan’s military leadership that is the main nemesis. There is no more talk of storming the citadel. It is back to normal politics with an eye on the next elections. With the return of the uncle, the niece has taken a back seat. There has been a tangible shift in Pakistani Muslim League (Nawaz) politics.

From Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s and his daughter Maryam Nawaz’s relentless attack on the country’s military leadership and their insistence on bringing down the entire system, it is now the politics of reconciliation. While attacks on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government continue, there is no more talk of destroying the edifice. With the return of Shehbaz Sharif, there is a visible change in that approach.

This change in the Pakistani Muslim League (N)’s strategy seemed inevitable after the collapse of the Pakistan Democratic Movement and its failure to bring down the government through a mass movement. A major reason for the fragmentation of the motley alliance was the hard-line position taken by Maryam Nawaz who had become the main face of the party in the absence of her uncle and her cousin Hamza Shehbaz.

Divided opposition

Undoubtedly, widely…

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