The jury is out on why Nawaz Sharif resigned.

Maryam Nawaz tried to clarify that her father lives in the political sphere.

KARACHI: Political analysts are divided on whether Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan knowing he might not be prime minister for a fourth term, though all agree his focus is now on his daughter. There is a political future.

When the Muslim League (N) announced that party leader Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had nominated Shehbaz Sharif for the post of Prime Minister and Maryam Nawaz for the post of Chief Minister of Punjab, many saw it as Nawaz Sharif's political coup. Called the virtual end of the career. On Wednesday, Maryam Nawaz sought to clarify that her father is in the political sphere and will "not only do vigorous politics but patronize his governments in the federation and Punjab".

The News reached out to political analysts to ask how they see the fortunes (or otherwise) of the House of Sharif in this latest development and why Nawaz Sharif would return to Pakistan if he were not to become prime minister again. What was the benefit of

Journalist and political analyst Sohail Waraich says that Nawaz Sharif was under no illusions about a possible fourth term as prime minister: "[Nawaz] was definitely told that he would be prime minister and the establishment has changed his mind and is ready to finish what he is ready to do. He was done with it. That was the assurance on the basis of which he returned.

For Raza Rumi, editor of The Friday Times-New Age, the PML-N supremo "returned to Pakistan to mobilize the voter base that had been fed up with the disastrous policies of the Shehbaz Sharif administration (April 2022-August 2023) and the resignation of was disillusioned with the cause. of the politics of resistance." Rumi rejects any theory that Nawaz Sharif has been deliberately kept out of office, adding that the Muslim League-N (PML-N) is black and blue in its strongholds in central Punjab. Defeated, and Shahbaz Sharif's image tarnished by his pro-establishment narrative. . The mood on the streets has been anti-establishment for years and Imran Khan has successfully seized the moment.

When Nawaz was returning to Pakistan, no one even considered the possibility that he might not become prime minister again, says journalist Hasan Iftikhar, who also adds that "Nawaz's return, these elections -- all of this." Something was hardly accidental and had to happen. Planned" In fact, jokes Iftikhar, "One thing that is said about Nawaz is that he never chose half-baked options. has no plans to return without finalizing all talks with the power corridors. The idea behind his return was to become the Prime Minister for the last term and his daughter to become the Chief Minister of Punjab, and some Work so that their daughter can also benefit from it.

Although here is a contrary point of view. Journalist and political analyst Asma Shirazi says that she does not think that Nawaz Sharif has become the prime minister again. According to Shirazi, "People were shown something different when in reality things were already settled -- because Nawaz wants his daughter's political future and becoming the chief minister of a province like Punjab is no small thing. Maybe that's why." That Nawaz deliberately showed less interest in these elections. He seemed more interested in Maryam's future than his own."

So, is there now a plan for Nawaz Sharif to adopt the personality of the "great elder" of Pakistan's politics? Be a queen maker for your daughter?

Yes, our analysts say Asma Shirazi explained that, while this current strategy "may not be the best, because Nawaz holds a special place for non-voters, I think it is now ahead for him." The path is that he will want to focus on Punjab now with his daughter on the throne there, he will want to make sure that he does his part to strengthen her and Noon's position in Punjab. Although she may be the chief minister, Nawaz Sharif will now play a strong role in Punjab politics.

Waraich agrees: "That's basically why he hasn't replaced the PM. He'll sit here in Lahore and focus on Maryam's politics now. Raza Rumi gives a more detailed look at this. In According to, "Contrary to the social media hype on Nawaz's retirement, he is going to be the supreme leader and leader for his party, especially for his daughter who now has a big challenge to rule Punjab. "

Rumi believes that Nawaz now "faces the biggest challenge of his career, even more than his repeated evictions, exiles and jails. He has to preserve his legacy as a democrat." And to maintain his popular base that seems to have shrunk over time. And he is facing a wave of technology-assisted populism." The irony in all this? Per Rumi, the reality is that "Sharif's anti-establishment narrative has been adopted by Imran Khan, once a favorite of the junta."

So what will be Nawaz Sharif's politics after 2024? Iftikhar simply replied: "What can be his politics?" On one side is Imran's populist narrative and on the other is Mian Sahib who is now an old man and represents the older generation in politics. Nawaz's voter is getting old like him. As are some of his own party. These are old people. His time in politics is coming to an end.

He points out that "Elections 2024 have badly affected the careers of two senior political leaders - Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif. Nawaz Sharif's future seems to be almost over politically and Imran Khan's at least for the foreseeable future." The era of populist prime ministers seems to be coming to an end.

But Waraich warned that "the politics of the PML-N could suffer because Nawaz Sharif was the face of the PML while Shahbaz was a good administrator. I think the party will struggle to stay strong without Nawaz's vision." " Nawaz will now be a more spiritual leader. In fact, over the years, Shahbaz and Hamza's role in Punjab became less and less. However, the vote bank of PML-N was always connected with him. Now the vote bank will have to look elsewhere.

How about the much-hyped 'deal'? Was there a deal for Nawaz to become the prime minister last time or not? Asma Shirazi does not think so and feels that Nawaz has returned to Pakistan keeping the current situation in mind. For Shirazi, PML-N had shown a different product to speak to the voter but upon opening the box, the voter realized something was different. One might say it is a kind of fraud on the voters." Sohail Waraich has a different take on this, adding that "a deal was made but it did not work because the party expected support from it. Couldn't get it. . His voter did not come out."

"It's the best situation for the establishment," Iftikhar tells The News. According to him, it is suitable for him to have a government in which no party has a majority and a prime minister like Shahbaz Sharif who will comply with it. Although I am not sure if this was a pre-existing agreement, it may have been in the mind of the establishment.