Imran Khan Ke Bad Ab Kiya Hoga? Shahbaz Sharif Ki Agli Chal
The debate has begun on whether Imran Khan is more dovish towards the U.S. and Pakistan, or if his anti-U.S. rhetoric is misguided. Both parties are claiming the other is wrong. Is Imran Khan right? Will he win a no-confidence motion? Read on to find out.
Shehbaz Sharif is more dovish towards Pakistan
After Nawaz Sharif stepped down, Shehbaz Sharif has emerged as the most likely next prime minister of Pakistan. Although Sharif is little-known outside Pakistan, he has a solid record as an administrator.
His brother, Nawaz, is the current prime minister and led the successful bid to oust Imran Khan in parliament. He also enjoys a good rapport with the military, and is expected to be the country’s prime minister.
Despite the political turmoil in Pakistan, Sharif dynasty has been leading dovish overtures to India. US-based south Asia experts say Pakistan’s political crisis is unlikely to become a top priority for Joe Biden while he is struggling to deal with the conflict in Ukraine and escalating tensions with India.
They point out that Pakistan’s military continues to dominate the country’s foreign policy, and that he will not prioritize Pakistan’s political turmoil, which he said is “a huge headache” for Biden.
According to the report, Sharif has defended himself against corruption charges. He has not been found guilty of any crimes and has been freed on bail after a trial. Despite the scandal, Sharif has become a symbol of the country’s waning relationship with India. The two leaders were nominated for leadership positions in the National Assembly in May 2019.
Imran Khan’s anti-U.S. rhetoric
The United States’ snub of Imran Khan’s bid for prime minister may have triggered his anti-U.S. rhetoric, but the rhetoric has a long history. The US has long practiced regime change, including the overthrow of governments in Cuba, Venezuela, and Afghanistan. Khan’s anti-US rhetoric may have been a reaction to the White House’s rebuke of his government’s lack of actionable intelligence.
Earlier this year, Imran Khan made allegations of conspiracy against the U.S., claiming an official document was revealed that mentioned a pending no-confidence vote.
While there is no proof of such a document, Imran Khan has used it to expand his political capital. He also accused the opposition of conspiring to remove him from power. This rhetoric has been criticized by international policy experts, but it has not been proven.
The Pakistani Army has overtly supported Imran Khan’s anti-U.S. rhetoric, claiming that the United States is “shamelessly interfering in Pakistani affairs.” Such support from Russia smacks of trouble for Pakistan’s geopolitical reputation, as Russia is not a partner of the United States. The war in Ukraine will not serve the interests of either side, and the social and economic costs will continue to weigh heavily on developing countries.
Although Imran Khan has backed the military, his rhetoric isn’t working for the country. He built a narrative to gain support on national and international forums and hoped that the strategy would pay off. The narrative has not worked, and Imran’s rhetoric will likely change. But it remains to be seen if his anti-US rhetoric can be sustained without the military’s backing.
Shehbaz Sharif’s political career
Shahbaz Sharif and Imran Khan have two things in common: they both belong to Pakistan’s wealthy Sharif family, and they both have close ties with the military. While the elder Sharif has a more prickly relationship with the military, Shehbaz is more comfortable with foreign leaders, and the two have traveled together. Shehbaz is also good with the military, and the two share a GOOD relationship with the president of Turkey, Recep Ergdogan.
Shahbaz Sharif first entered the Punjab Provincial Assembly in 1988, and later was elected to the National Assembly. In 1993, he became the leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly.
After the military coup in 1999, he moved to Saudi Arabia and spent several years there. He returned to Pakistan in 2007, and was appointed Punjab’s CM for a second term. He later returned to politics and served as CM for a third time in 2013. He served as CM of Punjab until the 2018 general elections.
Shahbaz Sharif’s political ambitions are similar. Both are siblings of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Shahbaz Sharif is the younger brother of former PM Nawaz Sharif.
He is an experienced administrator, and his political career began when his elder brother, Nawaz Sharif, became CM of Punjab Province. He served in the National Assembly until 1993.
Shahbaz Sharif and Imran Khan’s political careers have had a rough go of it in the last two weeks. Both were defeated by no-confidence motions from the National Assembly. The opposition attempted to topple Imran Khan by calling a snap election, and Shehbaz Sharif, Khan’s cousin, had been leading the opposition’s bid to oust Khan.
Imran Khan’s no-confidence motion
Imran Khan is expected to face a no-confidence vote early next week. While he is expected to survive the vote, the process will give the opposition a chance to paint him as weak and unfit to lead Pakistan. The opposition is expected to include leaders from the opposition, but the no-confidence motion will likely be seen as a major blow to Khan. Here’s what’s at stake.
After an economic crisis has decimated Khan’s popularity, the opposition has pushed for a no-confidence vote against the former cricketer. Last year, Khan appeared to lose the support of Pakistan’s military.
But he has defended himself against the allegations. The no-confidence vote was the result of a conspiracy against him by foreign governments. The US State Department said Khan’s claims were unfounded.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that the opposition is “on a dangerous path” and that history will reveal the deceptions behind the no-confidence vote.
However, Imran Khan, who is known as a “self-respecting nation,” said that the opposition and the US government were behind it. Moreover, he has been accused of mismanagement of the economy and of sabotage of democracy.
The government of Pakistan has appealed the Supreme Court’s decision to declare the no-confidence motion unconstitutional. The government has submitted two legal interpretations of Article 63-A and has asked for advice on whether it is constitutional.
Imran Khan may be able to buy himself some time with this advisory. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army is remaining neutral despite the fact that the Chief of the Army has reportedly asked Imran Khan to resign after the recent Conference of Islamic Countries (OIC) in Islamabad. A no-confidence vote needs 172 votes to pass.
Shehbaz Sharif’s support for Imran Khan
In spite of a loss in the general election, Shahbaz Sharif has remained a key ally of Imran Khan, who is also supported by the army. Although Sharif lost the elections, he was nominated for the position of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.
Sharif’s background is tainted with allegations of corruption. In 1998, Sharif ordered police to kill five religious students. He denied any political motives for ordering the deaths of the students, and was disqualified from running in the election. In 2008, Sharif’s wife, Jemima Goldsmith, was also acquitted.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to dissolve the Parliament has alarmed the opposition. Opposition leaders have called for the intervention of the Supreme Court.
The opposition is concerned that Imran Khan is pushing the country into anarchy, and the Supreme Court will not let him off scot-free. The court will uphold the Constitution. Imran Khan’s decision to dissolve the Parliament has been condemned by many, and it has prompted speculation about the fate of Pakistan’s future.
The opposition has gathered in large numbers on the streets, waving party and national flags. A crowd is expected to continue accumulating after the Ramadan fast.
The opposition says Khan is a victim of a conspiracy to remove him from power by foreign powers. However, the U.S. has denied the claim and has accused Khan of mismanagement and corruption. The opposition claims that Khan’s government has been corrupt and will not end until he is removed from power.
Although she is the younger brother of three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz does not attend speeches by other important personalities.
He gets information about such important personalities from various sources. Sharif’s support for Imran Khan is a sign of Sharif’s lack of interest in political grandstanding. It’s unclear what Shahbaz’s support for Imran Khan means for Pakistan’s future.