Senator Mushahid believes Nawaz not suited for PM Office in 'hybrid plus' system

• Senator believes Nawaz is better suited for presidency. 
• Says Nawaz as president would be good for PML-N and democracy.
• Advises Nawaz to allow someone else from party to become PM.

LAHORE: PML-N Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed has advised party supremo Nawaz Sharif to angle himself for the presidency rather than the Prime Minister Office as he believes he would not be suited for the premier’s seat in the current “hybrid plus” system, reported The News on Monday.

In an interview with a private news channel, the PML-N lawmaker said, “Given the ground realities and the person of Mian Sahib, and for country’s sake, I would advise him to leave the game for Prime Minister Office.”

“What will happen if he becomes premier for the fourth time? Will he have his name in the Guinness World Records, or get an Olympic medal? It shouldn’t happen that he faces eviction from the premier’s office again…rather, he should be head of the state (that means) the supreme commander of the military. This would be good for him, his party, country and democracy.”

The senator told the host that the country has seen six prime ministers in the last six years with three of them going to jail.

Mushahid advised Nawaz to allow someone else from the party to become the prime minister.

“Rather, I would say there should be a national government,” he added as he foresees that no one will be able to get a simple majority in the February 8 elections.

When asked if “the mother of all deals”, as he had put it, is in effect, Mushahid said, “Certain things are obvious. You bring them in and then you oust them. And if needed, you make deals with them.”

The senator went on to add, “They fight but there are also (rapprochements) after apologies. Gen Bajwa made a litany of calling them corrupt. And then there was an embrace. Calling (one) hero, making him zero, and then again making him a hero by ineptitude (is what they do).”

The senator said, “Now such a big gap between the elite and the street can’t sustain anymore. It will have to be bridged.”

He said, “The ‘mother of all deals’ means all would have to be taken along. All three (PMLN, PTI, PPP) are national parties. I am talking about party. All three have their bases. In the given circumstances, no one would want to open too many fronts.”

Mushahid said, “The PTI is in KP which borders Afghanistan with whose government ties are sour…so it (PTI) can’t be bypassed or ignored. National interest is also kept in view in national politics. This is so because political parties ensure cohesion in the country.”

The senator also believes that every party will get something. He cited the way Nawaz Sharif and Maryam were treated at the airport when they returned in July. The senator said everyone has compromised and accepted the new situation, and “they have been accepted because of this acceptance (of the situation).”

All parties taking part in polls have accepted the spheres they will work in, he added.