Nisar, Mushahid, Abbasi
The three "rebel" characters of the PML-N—Chaudhry Nisar, Mushahid Hussain, and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi—each have their own stories. Chaudhry Nisar, hailing from a family of military generals, became the right-hand man of the Sharif brothers and held key ministries. During Musharraf's martial law, Nisar was detained but gained some privileges, which raised suspicions. However, over time, the issue faded.
In 2014, during the Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri sit-ins, Nisar was the Interior Minister. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was informed that the Interior Minister was playing a double game. On one hand, Nisar held press conferences against Imran and Qadri, but on the other, he was allegedly encouraging them to "keep up the pressure." These sit-ins were believed to be orchestrated by the military establishment at the time. The Nawaz government desperately needed the support of even the smallest allied parties, and at such a critical juncture, Chaudhry Nisar, provoked by PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan, started a public feud with him. It remains unclear whether this was a scripted move or a genuine conflict. Regardless, this phase passed, but suspicions had already taken root.
The final straw came during an incident at the Gala House, which is also mentioned in Reham Khan's book. It is said that a friend of Imran Khan died of an overdose at a gathering and was taken to a local hospital. After confirming the death, chaos ensued, and the decision was made to transport the body to Lahore. A civilian agency monitoring the situation wanted to take action, but the Interior Minister ordered them to stand down. Had legal action been taken at the time, it could have caused irreparable damage to Imran Khan's political future. When the matter was later brought to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's attention, he was furious. From then on, Chaudhry Nisar's position became increasingly untenable. In a bid to save face, he launched a scathing critique of Nawaz Sharif, but it was a futile attempt.
It must be acknowledged that from his entry into the PML-N to his exit, Chaudhry Nisar's arrogance never wavered. Similarly, Mushahid Hussain, another close associate of Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif, openly admits to having deep ties with the establishment. However, what benefit did the PML-N derive from this? Mushahid Hussain could switch parties at any time, and it's hard to say whose side he is truly on. In 1999, after Nawaz Sharif's government was ousted, Mushahid became a favorite of military dictator General Musharraf. When Nawaz Sharif returned from exile, Mushahid was brought back into the PML-N and made a Senator. During Imran Khan's tenure, when the entire Sharif family was under scrutiny, Mushahid Hussain was seen smiling and laughing in Parliament and at events. Critics argue that the Sharif family prefers sycophants over loyalists.
Mushahid Hussain, while still a PML-N Senator, openly began supporting Imran Khan. It's unclear whether he was assigned this role or if he misjudged the situation. He once claimed that Trump would call and rescue Imran Khan, and he held similar expectations from Erdogan, but nothing came of it. Meanwhile, Mushahid himself became a target of ridicule. His activities concerning other countries—Iran, America, and even China—are very meaningful, but the public is well aware of the reality.
The third character is Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. His family background is both military and business-oriented. When General Bajwa disqualified Nawaz Sharif, the Sharif family honored Shahid Khaqan Abbasi by making him Prime Minister. However, the double games soon began. General Bajwa wanted an extension and was exerting pressure. Surprisingly, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi became his advocate, leading to speculation that the establishment was grooming him for a higher role. Once someone has been Prime Minister, it's natural for them to aspire to the position again.
The PML-N tried to restrain Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, but he formed his own party, perhaps under the illusion that if not Bajwa, someone else in the future would give him a chance. However, no such opportunity seems to be on the horizon. The general perception is that he is being used as a pawn. It appears that Shahid Khaqan Abbasi misjudged the situation, and now there's no way out. In this state of mind, he is now saying, "I regret why I stayed in the PML-N."