Sarwar’s search for power

As the governor of Punjab, Chaudhry Sarwar roamed around Lahore with the charm and sometimes the grimness of a retired schoolmaster.

He appeared to believe that a return to old values could set us back on the right track and he preached dialogue over protest and heated argument.

His advice was too simple and often deemed too impractical for the times, but he had sound enough history for anyone to fault him for putting in the effort.

Read: Sarwar takes oath as 35th Punjab governor

His case was helped in no small measure by the land he had come from — which we have all been taught is a model that we must follow.

A hardworking man making it big in the United Kingdom voluntarily giving up comforts that he had earned over long years, speaking in a tone that appeared to have purpose and not acrimony; so many might have found his pleas so appealing.

Also read: Sarwar tasked with wooing Imran

There is no doubt that Chaudhry Sarwar had presence. He did not have the kind of provocative presence of governor Salmaan Taseer causing discomfort to Shahbaz Sharif. He maintained a persistent low-key profile that refused to be eclipsed by the more dominant faces within the PML-N.

You could either have him or push him out; you could not make a ceremonial governor out of him, was his message. He was there to do the usual gubernatorial rounds of the colleges in Lahore, where he would be found delivering pep talk to students on the merits of struggle, but then he lingered on for far longer than he was required to by his office.

He outgrew his brief to be known as a man with some potential for action.

Also read| Punjab governor Sarwar resigns: 'I can serve Pakistan better out of office'

In the days after his exit as governor, many reasons have been given for his split with the PML-N and its top leadership. One aspect stands out, however: Chaudhry Sarwar himself appeared uncomfortable and caused plenty of unease in the tightly-knit PML-N set-up comprising Sharif family members and close friends.

He didn’t always appear to display the loyalty that others have been able to, to establish a long-term association with PML-N and its bosses.

He might have had some personal issues with the party, but to say these issues could not be resolved doesn’t make too much sense. PML-N in Punjab and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif do have this knack of overcoming small odds to accomplish tasks provided they have a strong enough urge.

Also read: Sarwar was cornered by CM on all fronts

They could have found ways to address some of Chaudhry Sarwar’s concerns but they were not used to, neither prepared to, reconcile to his reprimanding, school-master tone.

If he was an unwanted influence on the proceedings, clarity demanded he be allowed to carry on from a platform where he was a known opponent and not an unpredictable in-house irritant that could explode at any moment.

There was never any doubt the PTI would be that opposing platform. The PPP did try to contact Chaudhry Sarwar but as expected, the move further exposed the bad shape Asif Zardari’s party is in right now, in Punjab in particular where all it can do is wait for Bilawal Bhutto to take the reins.

Also read: Chaudhry Sarwar joins PTI

There is no desire in the public for a revival of the PPP, not even as a device to counter and keep a check on PML-N. The people have PTI and are happy with the Imran alternative to the Sharifs — or at least Nawaz Sharif at the centre.

At the event to welcome Chaudhry Sarwar’s entry into the party, the PTI chairman said, since he was busy taking on his political opponents, he couldn’t spare time for party organisation. He said he looked to the ex-governor of Punjab, who has experience of working with the Labour Party in the UK, to take up this organisational work.

There was reason for the anti-dynasty Imran Khan to not discuss that Chaudhry Sarwar’s political tradition in Glasgow is now being continued by his son. However, he could have certainly gone on to say he needed someone with the ex-governor’s presence in Punjab as he concentrated on power games in Islamabad.

PTI needs people in Punjab to counter Shahbaz Sharif just as Imran Khan promotes himself and is promoted by his supporters as a ready replacement for Nawaz Sharif. Punjab has been a problem for PTI, despite its popularity here for the simple reason that the party does not have someone to challenge Shahbaz Sharif, a force to reckon with on his own. That was true for the 2013 general election and this is the case at present.

There have been some possible PTI candidates, the most obvious ones being Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Jahangir Tareen. For one they are old politicians with past baggage whose projection as possible replacements of Shahbaz Sharif could be problematic for PTI’s commitment to reform. Second, they do not quite have the urban or central Punjab background that is long considered essential for someone wanting to take on Shahbaz.

Salmaan Taseer tried it, using his position as governor to seek to build his clout within the PPP and among the most conspicuous business ‘community’ that is long regarded as a crucial ally of PML-N. Whereas it would be too early to predict that Chaudhry Sarwar can fill the vacancy right away or if he will ever be able to, as a very successful businessman-politician from central Punjab he should be well-equipped to at least give it a shot.

That will make for some exciting politics, if nothing else. Chaudhry Sarwar may soon be striving to consolidate PTI’s challenge to the hitherto unchallenged Shahbaz Sharif in Punjab.

He could also be pushing his credentials within PTI in opposition to party colleagues hopeful of one day landing the chief minister’s post. He said he felt powerless as governor. If he was not looking for power he might as well have stayed in PML-N, settling for an odd lecture to students here and there about the virtues of honesty and principles.

The writer is Dawn’s resident editor in Lahore.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2015