Why Imran Khan is not the answer to dynastic politics

Our grievances with politics and the persistence of dynasties will not be remedied by the empty exaggerated rhetoric

Dynastic politics, be it the Sharifs and Bhuttos in Pakistan or the Gandhis in India, simply perpetuates the notion of princedoms which has persisted since medieval times. It puts into power individuals who are born into family riches, who received an education in foreign countries, are often supremely good-looking due to assortative mating, and whose privilege affords them many opportunities in life which others can only dream of. Hence, such individuals are unable to understand the economic insecurity and societal issues faced by the masses. Therefore, when they come to power, it is often at the expense of local candidates who have intimately experienced the common person’s issues and who are thus in a better position to offer solutions for those concerns.

It is not surprising that when Caliph Umar (RA) came to power, he set conditions for the empire’s officials. They could not ride Turkic horses, wear fine clothes, keep porters at the door, or consume sifted flour. He did this to ensure that government officials would always be reminded of the concerns of the common man. I think this is what former prime minister Imran Khan would have had in mind when he initially started his rhetoric against corruption, lavish protocols, and talked about creating Riyasat-i-Madina (the Medinese state). Yet, when Imran started making compromises through his many U-turns, he showed that all he ever had was an exaggerated narrative against corruption without any substance. What we must understand is that this in and of itself is not enough to tackle or supplant dynastic politics in Pakistan.

This is embodied by the fact that Trading Economics shows that Pakistan’s corruption ranking worsened from 117 to 140 during 2018-2021. This ranking is not surprising given the scandals that have emerged from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during Imran’s tenure. In 2019, PTI official Iftikhar Lund was removed as the human rights focal person in Sindh when news surfaced that his employee, Allah Rakhio, was sodomised with an iron rod in his presence. In 2021, the names of many PTI officials were revealed in the Pandora Papers, further damaging PTI’s anti-corruption narrative. This had already been compounded by PTI members like Jehangir Tareen, former federal minister for industries and production Khusro Bakhtiar, and former federal minister of water resources Moonis Elahi, being involved in and profiting from the wheat and sugar crisis. Again, this is not surprising since even the average PTI supporter would concede that while Imran may be ‘incorruptible’, he is surrounded by those who are not.

The latest news conference held by Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar, the official spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces, also shows that most of PTI’s claims surrounding Imran’s ouster are false. There has been no conspiracy aimed at ousting the government, America has not asked for air bases in the country, and the army chief does not seek nor will he accept any extension. Moreover, Imran has also admitted that filing for the removal of Supreme Court Justice Isa Malik was a mistake.

What all this indicates is that if his opponents are guilty of corruption and of exploiting the privilege afforded to them by dynastic politics, Imran himself is not above resorting to fabrications and cheap vindictive tactics either. So much for Riyasat-i-Madina, where Caliph Umar (RA) deemed himself responsible for even a dog dying thirsty on the banks of the Euphrates.

Many thoughtful Pakistanis across social media are aghast at the damage Imran has inflicted on the Pakistani social discourse and how he has caused a rift in Pakistani society, one which may well prove to be irreparable. Yet, the words of these critical thinkers don’t count for much when confronted with a personality cult which blindly defends and places a populist leader above the state, much like Donald Trump’s supporters did.

Pakistanis need to focus on contribution, not fanatical reaction. They need to understand that Imran is not the answer to dynasty politics. They are. Instead of engaging in reactionary politics, they need to start contributing towards the betterment of their society, like Pakistani civil rights activist and lawyer Mohammad Jibran Nasir is doing. They need to focus on the pressing economic conditions of our times instead of unproductive tactics based on personality clashes and identity politics. The people have to rise above arguing for or against Imran, the Bhuttos and the Sahrifs. The rot that has dominated Pakistan’s political landscape for decades can only be remedied if the masses collectively choose to steer Pakistan in the right direction. Our grievances with the nature of politics in the country and the persistence of dynastic politics will not be remedied by the empty exaggerated rhetoric of a septuagenarian who has now allowed power to tarnish him as well.