ISLAMABAD: A happy and triumphant prime minster held consultations with his party leaders to formalise his government’s formal response to the findings of the judicial commission. Amid smiling faces, congratulatory hugs and occasional laughter, the PML-N leadership, gathered at the PM office around noon, decided to keep its tone against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf mild — for the moment — and not gloat over the JC report.

In other words, political common sense prevailed over the usual PML-N bluster.

A few of the leaders gathered advised the prime minister to use the moral victory the party was accorded thanks to the elections inquiry commission’s report as a tool for introspection and inspiration to improve governance.

Know more: There was no rigging at any level in 2013 elections, says Nawaz

The mood was triumphant but cautious.

The prime minister was advised that the JC’s verdict — favourable though it was — will not help the party score a victory in the future electoral contests.

“Our survival depends on our performance,” said a federal minister.

The words of caution were heard by the prime minister in the hour-long meeting.

The meeting had been held in the wake of the judicial commission report and it was Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who cautioned his colleagues and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif against embarrassing the PTI.

A PML-N insider privy to the sitting told Dawn that the Chaudhry was of the view that instead of railing against the PTI for having levelled false allegations and then failing to provide proof, the government must use the political capital gained to focus on its performance.

“Come next general elections, people will have forgotten about the findings of the JC and they will only judge us on the basis of our performance. Therefore, we should double our efforts to deliver on the promises we made in 2013,” Chaudhry Nisar was quoted as saying during the meeting.

Known for speaking his mind, Mr Nisar said since the government was supported by all the political parties in the parliament against PAT-PTI dharna, “We should use this opportunity as a way forward for political reconciliation and strengthening democracy.”

According to a second PML-N source, the minster for finance, Ishaq Dar, also spoke in favour of maintaining a sober tone, simply claiming a high moral ground and avoiding PTI bashing. “The JC has spoken for the government and we should avoid criticising the PTI.”

The two senior leaders won the day it seems. The rest present there agreed with the view of Khan and Dar.

However, it was agreed that if Imran Khan and leaders of his party failed to reciprocate with a conciliatory tone, “we should respond to him (Khan) in the same coin”.

In other words, the PML-N decided to keep relatively quiet and let the PTI face the music and the media.

It was because of the meeting, the sources claimed, that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his 15-minute address to the nation made a subtle reference to PTI’s dharna and then spoke of how the JC had provided a new historic opportunity for all the political forces to work together for the country.

Perhaps this is also why Senator Pervez Rashid in a talk show simply said that the decision to apologise [for failing to provide evidence in support of his allegations] was Imran Khan’s to make.

Before his sitting with senior party leaders to discuss his speech which he was to deliver in the evening, the prime minister received a detailed briefing from Ashtar Ausaf Ali, his special assistance on law, and Parvez Rashid, who is serving as the information minister as well as law.

Others who attended the second meeting included information minister for state, Anusha Rehman, MNA Talal Chaudhry, adviser to the prime minister, Irfan Siddiqui, Attorney General Aslam Butt and special assistant on political affairs Barrister Zafarullah Khan.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2015

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