Why Maryam Nawaz and Bilawal Bhutto will never understand my Jazba-e-Junoon
PHOTO: FILE
The past fortnight, from Friday, May 6th in Mianwali to Friday, May 20th in Multan, a revolution of the hearts and minds has gripped the length and breadth of Pakistan. Since April 10th, there has been an intense, unanimous and immediate reaction to the toppling of Imran Khan’s government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
At home and abroad, Pakistanis of all generations have turned out in millions and said “Absolutely Not" to foreign interference and collusion aligned with institutionalised treachery. So why this extreme reaction by the Pakistani public, and why now?
Firstly, over the past quarter century, Imran has been hammering the narrative of self-sovereignty, self-reliance and accountability across the board. Over the decades, his relentless narrative had been met with stiff resistance and fierce aggression from the status quo parties of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). They seemed impregnable, aligned with cynical foreign interests.
Consequently, previous generations of Pakistanis had been forced to swallow institutionalised corruption as a way of life, living on foreign aid and sacrificing national honour and sovereignty for crumbs on their tables.
Slowly but surely, Imran radically changed that subservient, fatalistic mindset, and replaced it with the notion that perseverance commands success and a belief that we worship Allah alone and no one else, and rely on Him alone and no one else.
Moreover, another reason for the immense change in public outlook is that music, cricket and politics came together to form an immaculate conception.
Back in 1996, when I wrote and composed the lyrics of Jazba-e-Junoon, it coincided with the launch of Imran party, the PTI, and was also Junoon’s theme song for the Pakistan cricket team’s World Cup campaign.
Jazba-e-Junoon’s message touched a deep nerve among the people. It urged a nation, raised under an inferiority complex, crushed under crippling debt, steeped in illiteracy, and weakened by hunger and disease to rise up through idealism, integrity, loyalty, meritocracy and mystical insight. The driving anthem dreamt of a Pakistan where the power of the people would be the engine to democracy, freedom, prosperity, peace and justice.
Presently, over the past two weeks, Imran has used the phrase "Jazba Junoon" several times to communicate his passion for his idea of 'Haqeeqi Azaadi' (true freedom). He has also strongly criticised and shed light on the thin, cosmetic, selfish veil of Pakistani elite (The Mir Jafars and the Mir Sadiqs as he calls them) embodied in the dynasties of Maryam Nawaz and Bilawal Bhutto.
This “I, Me, Mine” elite who have hogged all the resources and stolen a better future for the 220 million people for 75 years; who play dress up and act the role of conscientious leaders. But truth be told, they are imposters and political vultures. Maryam and Bilawal’s public appearances are scripted and stage-managed, while they buy their followers with promises. Furthermore, their media narrative is built on falsehood, hypocrisy and bribery. Even the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance is a vulgar contradiction. They represent the Purana Pakistan raised on neocolonialism interference.
And Imran has exposed that.
He has shed light on all the nefarious actors who stabbed him in the back and tried to fool the people into accepting a "Cherry Blossom", "Crime Minister and his Crime family" as the face of Pakistan.
In comparison, the Pakistan of Imran has been raised with the timeless and ageless rhythm of Jazba-e-Junoon. It’s like a caterpillar's journey of transforming into a butterfly, a journey of failures and success. The toppling of PTI's government could well turn out to be a huge blessing in disguise for Imran, for it has finally awakened the soul of Pakistan.
Maryam and Bilawal are living in a rickety house of cards and 'ruling' on borrowed time. No matter how much they blame and take Imran’s name in anger, it will not change their political fortunes. They are doomed by their dynasties. They are on the wrong side of history.
They lack the qualities required for true Jazba-e-Junoon. They will never understand the jazba and junoon of Naya Pakistan.