LAHORE -  The announcement made by former Premier Nawaz Sharif to launch ‘Adal Tehreek’ still appears a myth instead of a reality.

The former prime minister had announced to launch a campaign against the judicial system in the country after the Supreme Court passed the verdict to qualify PTI Chairman Imran Khan as a member of the parliament in the offshore company case last month whereas it had already disqualified him in the Panama case.

Since then Nawaz Sharif has been showing strong anger against the judiciary and Imran Khan terming him ladla of this institution. His tirade against the judiciary has been multiplied by his appearance before the accountability court in the criminal references moved by the NAB on the SC direction against him, his three children, son-in-law and Samdhi Ishaq Dar. He has been publicly criticising the judiciary, alleging it had ousted him from the prime minister’s office merely on the ground of keeping Iqama and serving his son’s company as chairman.

Hitting back in this situation, Nawaz Sharif had announced to launch a movement to enforce what he said a fair and equitable justice system. However, at the party level, no such preparations are underway, showing anything like a formal movement. So the “Adal Tehreek” is not going to be the kind of bringing the people on the roads or taking out processions and dhanras. However, when Nawaz Sharif talked about ‘tehreek’, the mass movement like March 12, 2009, which was launched under his leadership to restore the judges, came into the mind. But that does not appear to occur this time.

Currently, “Tehreek-e-Adal” is a pivotal mention in the public appearances of Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, but other PML-N leaders are not speaking about it in the public. There are elements in the PML-N like Ch Nisar Ali Khan who openly oppose confrontation with the judiciary and the army and this need has become more pronounced, particularly after threatening words from US President Donald Trump to Pakistan.

The PML-N sources shared their point of view on this score with this scribe that the mass movement or a protest tehreek does not suit the party, its government and the prevailing situation in the country. Instead, there is a dire need for peace and tranquility to meet challenges on economic and political front. They said this is the election year, so focus of the party leadership should be more on the election preparations than bringing the people on roads. They have another point that the PAT on Model Town and Pir Sialvi on Khatm-e-Nabuwat issues are likely to mobilise the public to press the demand for the resignations of the CM and the law minister. If the PAT from outside and Pir Sialvi from inside want to shake the PML-N government in the Punjab, the party may face a difficult time owing to Mian Sahib’s plan to take the same course. Another feature of his tehreek will be incorporating in the party manifesto reforms for equitable judicial system. They say Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to address a public rally in Kot Momen, Sargodha, on January 6, which will be followed by one in Multan, another in Sheikhupra and more in Sindh.

It is worth mentioning that while addressing a press conference in Punjab House, Islamabad, after appearing before the accountability court on January 3, the former prime minister skipped mentioning “adal tehreek. He, however, announced to disclose the characters that he believed were active behind the decision against him and in support of Imran Khan. Now it appears Nawaz Sharif has adopted a separate course to vent his fury against the judiciary, but he is being strongly quizzed by PPP, PTI and other opponent parties for unveiling the names who, in his view, conspired to dislodge him from the office. The pressure from the opposition sounds the first test of his nerves before he enters the second phase, as observers say.