LAHORE - Political temperature in the country is expected to shoot up after the NAB expedited action against the opposition leaders.

Political observers believe that accelerated action of NAB against the political rivals of the PTI, may bring the mainstream political parties, the PML-N and the PPP, closer pushing back what different stances they took after election or what they said before that.

The anti-graft body has squared the accountability drive by announcing to probe the PTI chief minister in KP and two other ministers in a corruption case pertaining to 2013-18 PTI government in this province. Nevertheless, opposition parties believe they are the sole target of accountability and it sounds substantive keeping in view the recent crackdown on the toppers of both the major parties.

PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif has been in NAB custody for the last two and half months in case of Ashiana Housing Project. The NAB has now arrested another two top leaders: Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique. Another key leader of the PML-N Hamza Shehbaz has not been allowed to travel abroad and his name has been placed on the ECL. This measure suggests he could face difficult situation in the time to come as NAB is investigating against him for holding assets beyond means and construction of road near his Ramzan Sugar Mills at the state expense. The accountability court is going to announce decision on the reference filed against the former prime minister and PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif by December 24 while other top leaders of the party namely former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former ministers Khawaja Asif and Marriyum Aurangzeb have appeared on the NAB radar on different charges. The overall picture is not pleasing for the PML-N. As to the PPP, the NAB has served notices on Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for appearance in a 21-year-old case and currently a JIT probe is going on against former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur on money laundering charges. They are appearing before the JIT in background of protective bail granted to them by the SHC against their possible arrest. The situation has also raised hackles of the party. The PPP is freely voicing against the NAB terming the action on its leaders political victimization and discriminatory. The PPP and the PML-N are now fast merging their voice against the NAB after action against their leaders last day although previously they took variegated stand.

MMA, ANP and other political parties in the parliament are pleased that two main parties are coming closer to put up the role of a strong opposition. The leaders of opposition parties met in Islamabad yesterday to take stock of the situation and level ground for future line of action. The brewing scenario is harbinger of a heated politicking in not too far future.

Previously the PPP and the PML-N stood apart at the time for the prime minister and the presidential election whereof the initial slogan raised after the general polls for ‘giving a very tough time to the PTI government’ died down. Later, the MMA head Maulana Fazlur Rehman who has been pursuing aggressive politics after he lost polls on July 28, wanted to bring all opposition under one umbrella but his round table conference for this purpose failed to take place due to refusal by the top leaders of the PPP and the PML-N to participate. Now when both the parties feel themselves in the same boat, chances are bright about their joining hands to play on the front foot at least on NAB issue, although the PTI is dubbing the opposition emasculated to pose any threat to it.

Nawaz Sharif after attending the NAB proceedings spoke to media on retaining the NAB law while the PML-N MNA Rana Sanaullah Khan voiced for constituting the national government of all parties to steer the country out of current quagmire of problems which, he said, the PTI alone was incapable to do. The PPP was not happy with this statement as it has a different stand on this matter.

Whether or not the PML-N leaders show a compromising stand, is likely to get clear after these latest NAB-related developments.

The PTI on the other hand appears committed to accelerating crackdown on corrupt and money launderers as the ruling party had announced to swing into action after setting a roadmap for it during the first 100 days in power. This is also going to become a means for closing the ranks of opposition and fan political situation in the coming days, say the observers.