There is no iota of doubt that PMLN began as a pro-establishment pro-right wing political party, but then, which political party did not start as pro-establishment. Even the most anti-establishment party was founded by Mr. Bhutto who served as minister in the cabinet of Mr. Sikander Mirza and Mr. Ayub Khan. He even was covering candidate for Ayub Khan in his election against Madam Fatima Jinnah. He even wrote to Sikander Mirza, declaring him even greater leader than Jinnah. He launched his party when Ayub Khan was at his most vulnerable and lost his support in Army too, and became the face of anti-establishment where in fact working for establishment to dethrone Ayub Khan.
The real anti-establishment PPP started after the demise of Mr. Bhutto by Zia ul Haq under BeNazir Bhutto and at that time PMLN started its political career as pro-establishment party. It continued as it was supposed to be till 1993 when clashes between powerhouses and the then Prime Minister started. This was the time when both PMLN and PPP revised their strategies. PPP started to tilt towards establishment & PMLN adopted some anti-establishment policies. This continued until in 1999 PMLN Government was thrown out by any army coup under Mr. Pervaiz Musharraf. This is when PMLN really became an anti-establishment party. As a matter of fact, credit must be given to both BeNazir Bhutto and Nawaz Shareef for signing the “Misaq E Jamhooriat” which if implemented in its true letter & spirit could have changed the whole political scenario for good in Pakistan.
But unfortunately after demise of Benazir Bhutto, the next PPP leadership chose to side with establishment and gave no attention to public issues as the ruling political party of Pakistan. This made PMLN hugely popular among the masses and it became the most popular political party of Pakistan. This time, instead putting all its weight behind one political party altered their policy and launched several pawns to divide the vote bank of major anti-establishment. First, PTI was launched. At start it received an overwhelming response as winds of change in the country, but due to immaturity and confusion among the ranks of its own leadership resulted in its downfall. Then establishment tried another, in Mr. Tahir ul Qadri, whose initial moves were so dangerous that those even threatened to derail the democracy in Pakistan. But thanks to media and awareness in people he was exposed at very early stage and he had to join the ranks of ruling coalition.
These two attempts were clearly to divide the vote bank of PMLN which majorly is right wing, but with these being exposed it will be first time after 1990 that elections will be held in Pakistan, between one anti-establishment party at one side and pro-establishment on the other. The continuous rise in the popularity of PMLN depicts that it will be a hard nut for establishment to crack and it may win at least simple majority in upcoming General Elections.
