Former Pakistan PM's onslaught on ruling party worries diplomats

ISLAMABAD, February 22 (Internews): The announcement by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to take on the ruling Pakistan People’s Party for not restoring deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, delay in implementation of Charter of Democracy (CoD) signed between his Pakistan Muslim League-N and the ruling party and suspicion of an attempt to disqualify him and his brother Shahbaz from public office has created a stir in the diplomatic corps.
The diplomats burnt the midnight oil over the weekend as Sharif made a blistering speech to gather credible information about the motives behind the decision to join the lawyers’ fraternity in a long march on Islamabad and an indefinite protest sit-in in front of the Parliament House next month.
The diplomats have consigned emergency dispatches of ‘situation reports’ to their respective capitals with a warning about the upcoming scenario since some inexperienced leaders of the PPP have helped in aggravating the situation through their knee-jerk re action over the assertions of Sharif pertaining to unleash public movement for attaining support of the masses for his demands,
Well-placed diplomatic sources said here Sunday that the political development of the outgoing week had flabbergasted the diplomats, who were not expecting new wave of confrontation between the two major political parties of their host country.
The diplomats acquired the translated version of the address made by Sharif before general council members of his party on emergency basis to make their assessment of the situation without delay
The diplomats are of the view that incumbent administration in the country is so fragile that it cannot withstand the upcoming onslaught of the charged opposition that has the overwhelming support of the people. The opposition has built a strong case before the people and it is to be seen that how the government handles the agitation that to overspill and it could attain any the course of movement.
The dispatches while dealing with the probabilities with regard to emerging situation have suggested that the government led by President Asif Zardari can still exercise the option of bringing the deposed judges back to their respective courts in a surprise move. But this would not satisfy the sentiments of the people if not taken soon.
The political divides have abruptly gone so far that would not be patched any more, some say. They have identified Prime Minister Yousaf Gilani as one person who ultimately would be brought in action by the president to parley with the angered and worked up opposition ranks. Gilani commands esteem in the ranks of the opposition and is generally treated with respect by the leaders sitting with opposition.