The joint opposition under the banner of the Pakistan Democracy Movement (PDM) is in full swing, to remove the ‘selected’ government of Imran Khan. On Tuesday, the PDM carried out a protest in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), ostensibly unveiling the funding sources of the ruling Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) government. Earlier this month, at a rally in Bahawalpur, its leaders vowed that there is ‘no stepping back’ and that once the PDM lawmakers resign it will be the curtail call for the government.

The PDM launched its movement from Gujranwala, where former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s address shocked many. During his video link speech, Sharif directly blamed the military for toppling his government. “You can seize my properties, can declare me traitor, if you want, but Nawaz Sharif will continue to talk to his people,” said the former premier.

Furthermore, the PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif also criticized the establishment. “The army establishment should not side one political party and should be very careful,” she said during a speech.

The opposition has been blaming military for bringing Khan to the office of PM. The opposition believes that the military ‘selected’ Khan through massive rigging in 2018 elections. PDM has vowed that Khan’s government will end soon. Even, the PML-N has claimed that the current government will end in January 2021.

 “Imran Khan’s government would be sent packing following Pakistan Democratic Movement’s protest campaign,” Maryam Nawaz said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has slammed the opposition for maligning military and COAS Bajwa. After Nawaz’s speech in Gujranwala, the premier addressed a ceremony, saying, “PML-N leader was using inappropriate "language" against the army and ISI chiefs at a time when Pakistani soldiers were constantly sacrificing their lives for the nation.

The PDM, especially the PML-N and the JUI-F, has been directly targeting army after the 2018 general elections. On one hand, the PML-N and its top leadership is criticizing army for snatching the electoral vote.

According to them, the establishment took the vote of public and established the government for their choice. Since 2018, the opposition is all ready to go head-to-head with the military establishment. On multiple occasions, the opposition expressed such sentiments, that a revolution seemed around the corner.

But experts ask why that ‘revolution’ is postponed or delayed every time? Many feel it is because of a weak stance by the opposition. There have always been reports and rumors of PMLN’s ‘deal’ with the establishment. The current example is Nawaz Sharif’s departure to London after remaining in hospital for days. The former premier not only got bail, but was also allowed to fly abroad.

Furthermore, the second major party in PDM is PPP and its co-chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that he was shocked, when Nawaz Sharif took the name of COAS Bajwa directly. “It was a shock for me because, typically, we don't talk like this at rallies. But Nawaz heads his own party and I can't control what he says, just like he can't control what I say," Bilawal said. The PPP’s presence at the PDM rallies has gradually declined in recent weeks.

Later on, Maryam Nawaz has also said that PML-N is ready to hold talks with establishment, "provided that the PTI government is dismantled” adding that “the army is my institution.” Although it appears to be a normal statement, but if you take the recent statements and attitude of PML-N in recent past, then it would seem to be a major shift.

Earlier, the PML-N’s top leadership has repeatedly targeted military for its role in politics, and now it is ready to talk, if Khan’s government ends. Is the opposition’s main stance changing? Or is it ready to ‘compromise’?

Many experts feel that Khan’s government will not go anywhere because he and army are on the ‘same page’. The strict anti-army stance has further impacted the political vote and reputation of PML-N. Even some old PML-N leaders have slammed Nawaz and some left the party over Nawaz’s statement against Bajwa.

Many say that Sharif cannot just ask people to come on roads for an anti-army revolution, when he himself is sitting in London. For many experts it is a long process, which needs a huge commitment by political leaders, who should not sign a ‘deal’ with establishment for own convenience and then criticize it.