PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has been trying to convince his brother, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to drop his demand for holding former military officials accountable for their "unconstitutional actions." It seems that Shehbaz's efforts have paid off, as Nawaz is now reportedly inclined to adopt a more conciliatory stance.
A party source has claimed that Nawaz is now focused on the country's economic stability and upholding constitutional principles. The source also said that Nawaz has changed his mind after discussing the issue with Shehbaz and receiving negative feedback from other party members.
The source said that the party does not want to put itself on a collision course with the establishment by demanding the accountability of former military chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and ex-Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed. The source added that the party also does not want to raise questions about Shehbaz's relationship with the military.
The source said that Nawaz will now focus on the economy, unemployment, inflation, and the supremacy of the vote. He added that the talk of Bajwa and Hameed's accountability will gradually recede into obscurity.
The source also claimed that there is an understanding that if the PML-N returns to power, Nawaz will become Prime Minister and Shehbaz will return to Punjab as Chief Minister.
The source denied that Shehbaz's trip to London was at the behest of the establishment. He also said that the change in Nawaz's stance is not related to the statements made by the caretaker government.
Another PML-N leader, Javed Latif, said that those involved in hatching conspiracies should be held accountable by the institutions themselves. He added that without holding the powerful responsible, the nation cannot move forward in the right direction.
However, another PML-N leader denied that Nawaz is abandoning his narrative of accountability. He said that Nawaz firmly believes that without accountability, a fresh start is not possible.
He added that Shehbaz may have managed to convince Nawaz to remain quiet over the issue in the short-term, but that may change depending on the kind of reception he receives on his return to the country.
In summary, it seems that the PML-N is dropping its demand for holding former military officials accountable for their actions. This is likely due to a number of factors, including the party's desire to avoid conflict with the establishment and focus on the economy.
