Articles of the year 2020

The battle lines have been drawn, and both sides are preparing for another round. The forces opposing Imran are assembled, with the religious right taking its place in the hope of large rewards at the end.

Maulana Diesel, a sobriquet earned by years of supporting Zardari and by threats of his using his large supply of young madrassah students, has access to their numbers, which can be boosted by the JI, which is much more disciplined than the Diesel Brigade.

The PML-N ‘Gullu Butts’ are a formidable force that have the run of the Punjab and the support of the province’s district councils. All the thanas are also under their control.

This is evidenced by the fog descending on the motorway rapist who seems to have vanished. It is obvious that the long association is paying off. Also the IPP owners that have billions to lose if Imran is not reined in.

The most effective are the media players who are unabashedly against Imran. Theirs is a simple ‘Play for Pay’ policy.

Imran is hesitant to pay, and the media is notorious for its financial bias. Mir Shakil ur Rehman calls the shots without a hitch while languishing in jail.

Alongside this formidable array of power are the business associations who consider Nawaz Sharif as one of their own. As do the textile Industry and sugar barons. The big money is betting against Imran.

The line up is indeed formidable. All this could be swept away easily but the Establishment itself which is supposed to be on the side of the government is apparently not.