The PTI emerged triumphant as the largest single party under the capable leadership of Imran Khan
LAHORE: On July 25, General Election 2018 was held across the country. The PTI emerged triumphant as the largest single party under the capable leadership of Imran Khan. We have come a long way from 1947. It is a pleasure to witness the third peaceful democratic transition of power. Imran Khan’s success in the elections followed by the humbling, impressively mature and inclusive victory speech has been hailed by millions around the globe and marks a new era in the history of Pakistan.
The PTI’s victory was quite evident months before that led up to the election. However, a sweeping victory was rather astounding given the PML-N’s three-decade domination in their stronghold of Punjab where they suffered major blows. Besides, the PML-N’s decision to bring back Nawaz Sharif and his daughter did not yield the desired results for the party. Sympathy vote and sympathy card were outright rejected by voters on the polling day. Another significant thing is the fact that the PTI is forming government in K-P for the second consecutive time that is unprecedented in the province.
Now that Imran Khan is likely to be the next prime minister, tougher tasks lie ahead of him. It is not going to be easy, and speed will be of essence for the momentum to be maintained. Under the famous election campaign motto of Naya Pakistan, much more is expected and required from Khan compared to his predecessors. The nation is optimistically looking forward to change. Relations with India, with the US under President Trump and issues like Kashmir, dams and the FATF would rather test Khan’s capabilities as a leader.
He must constitute his federal cabinet and team of senior advisers wisely, as they would be primarily responsible for implementing the government’s policy objectives in consonance with Khan’s vision and priorities. The same goes for all the other appointments, policies and decisions that he will make in his five-year tenure at every level of his government, be it the federal, Punjab or K-P where meritocracy must be the key. The quality of these decisions, the changes (tabdeeli) they would induce in the socio-economic, cultural, political and foreign policy dynamics and most importantly the extent to which they would transform the lives of the common man would eventually determine the country’s course and veracity of Khan’s deliverance of Naya Pakistan.
May Imran Khan’s leadership and vision bring the change the nation aspires to see and enable him to successfully deliver on his promises!
Abdullah Saeed
Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2018.
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