Is Imran Khan a real problem?

‘Pakistan is at a crossroads’ is a cliché. Since our independence we have repeatedly heard this line describing multiple crises this country has endured. The current political turmoil suggests that we have neither learnt from our past nor are we ready to pass through the ‘crossroads’ phase. The reason is that we have not changed the script. Faces may be different but characters and directors are the same. That is why political experiments have produced the same results over and over again. The cost of these experiments is borne by the country and its citizens.

How did we reach here? It requires no rocket science to suggest an answer. Like previous experiments, powers-that-be needed a political force and a leader who could do their bidding since their previous projects failed. The idea behind supporting Imran Khan was to break away from the traditional political parties — PPP and PML-N — which according to the powerful quarters are corrupt to the core and are not capable of looking after the country’s interests. With Imran Khan at the helm, the political dispensation would undertake internal reforms and pursue external policies seeking a rebranding of Pakistan. The facilitators were misled to believe that the PTI government had a roadmap to execute the plan of action.

The reality, however, dawned upon them soon that the PTI had done no homework when they took to the seat of power. That lack of homework was the reason Pakistan remained indecisive on the IMF programme for 9 months while squandering the $12 billion bailout package extended by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. No government before the PTI was given that generous support by Pakistan’s friendly countries. Don’t forget the media was even given a friendly advice to do “positive reporting”.

Yet, the country has failed to take off. As they say success has many fathers but failure is an orphan. When there was a realisation that the current government did not have the ability to deliver, its facilitators started abandoning the ship. The turning point as happened on previous occasions came when the Prime Minister started asserting his authority. Power has its own dynamics. No matter whoever is the Prime Minister in Pakistan, he/she is bound to collide with the power centres at some stage. Muhammad Khan Junejo was considered the most obedient Prime Minister but even he eventually had a standoff with one of the most powerful military dictators, General Ziaul Haq.

But Imran Khan is no Junejo. He is no Nawaz Sharif either as his supporters now publically warn that any attempt seeking his ouster will be met with resistance. Imran Khan has also shown during his nearly four-year rule that he is stubborn. Take the example of Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. He was advised umpteen times and even put under pressure to bring a more suitable chief minister to run the largest and politically important province. But he has never bowed before those pressures. Another example that the Prime Minister stuck to his beliefs was the appointment of ISI chief. Breaking from the past practice, he not only sat on the notification but also made sure he interviewed the potential candidates before making the final call. Remember, previously no elected Prime Minister ever interviewed the candidates for the post of DG ISI.

In fact the appointment of the DG ISI was the point where the “same page” shredded to pieces. What is happening now is not surprising for those who know Pakistan’s history. Imran Khan may have failed to deliver but he is just a symptom and not the cause of the problem!

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^th, 2022.

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