ESTRANGED PML-N leader and former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan appeared in the Punjab Assembly after nearly three years on Monday to take oath for the seat he had won in the 2018 elections. He was unable to do so because the speaker and deputy speaker were not available and the assembly staff said they could not carry on with the oath at the moment.

In his brief talk with the media, the politician said this was no justification for not letting him take oath because any member chairing the session had the speaker’s powers. However, he remained guarded in his comments and said he would return to the assembly after a few days to take oath.

Ever since news broke that Chaudhry Nisar was emerging from his political hibernation, there had been feverish speculation about his move. Given the unstable situation of the PTI government in Punjab and constant murmurs of a change at the top, his appearance on the scene was seen by many as part of a larger move in the province. However, it remains unclear what role he could play at this moment and he said so himself that he was not part of any larger game.

Read: Nisar puts end to 35-year association with PML-N

What makes his timing significant is the heightened political activity by PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, which is aimed at lowering the political temperature of his party’s politics and creating more space for fresh initiatives. Both Chaudhry Nisar and Mr Sharif have traditionally acted as the bridge between the PML-N and the establishment and therefore the former’s re-emergence will obviously be seen in this overall framework. For someone who has been a major political player in the country for more than three decades, Chaudhry Nisar is not likely to have taken the decision to return to active politics without a clear plan. The next few weeks leading up to the budget may reveal the contours of this plan and the role that Chaudhry Nisar sees for himself.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2021