SALAHUDDIN HAIDER
HONESTLY, he has done a tremendous job. By releasing an enquiry report against his own people like Jehangir Tareen, Khusro Bakhtiar, and Moonis Ilahi of Pakistan Q league, he has not only set an example for others to emulate, but has lived upto his reputation of being an upright man, honest and firm on principles of integrity. Whatever he did last week is unprecedented, and if categorized as something novel and historic, it won’t be an overstatement. None in the government or those in power before him, had the courage, conviction, or even the capacity to unmask their own people, whether political associates, relations, friends, or close ones. Fear of reprisal from opponents forced them to sweep even the mildest of wrongs under the carpet, lest it whips up a storm and jolts their power base. But the Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief, now at the helm as prime minister of the country, cognizant of the fact of severe backlash, chose to make public FIA findings on February scandal of wheat flour and sugar supplies, its deliberate hoarding, and export subsidies, resulting windfall profit from arbitrary price hikes, ordered it to release it to media. But instead of winning unanimous approval, it did cause ripples in the pond. Some of the television anchors and pseudo intellectuals, tried, vainly though, to mislead the public by tweeting that the announcement was more of leak, rathen than voluntary release. Nature has its own principles, which is unalterable. It upholds truth, and unmasks those trying to paint it black. No sooner than these tweets surfaced on social media, premier ’s adviser Shahzad Akbar submitted incontrovertible evidence in a tv show to prove that prime minister had received the enquiry report on 31 March, which was marked to him 3rd April for media release. Leaks etc were sheer allegations from defeated minds. Akbar said that he himself delivered the press release about enquiry report to a number of TV anchors like Hum TV, Geo, ARY, and several others. How such a boldness be defamed as mere leaks, or euqalling it to Panama, Dawn or Wikileaks. This was sheer accusations, the purpose of which was clear. Maligning or atleast undermining the Premier, was the intention. Jehangir Tareen, often branded his Imran’s ATM by opponents of PTI chief, reacted rather soberly. Explaining that he had secured subsidies during Shahbaz Sharif times, and had exported surplus sugar to Afghanistan and other destinations. Secondly, this was an incident of 2017-2019. However, he made it abundantly plain that though his ties with Imran was somewhat different now, yet he will not disassociate from PTI, and remain loyal to the party. Reaction from another cabinet minister Khusro Bakhtiar was awaited, but his brother was removed from good ministry in the Punjab. Obviously the premier did this after consulting Punjab chief minister Uzman Buzdar. But happily, the reaction fromMoonis Ilahi, son of Q leader leader, now speaker of Punjab Assembly Chaudhri Pervez Ilahie, was a welcome one. He said he would be happy if forensic reports unfolds correct facts. Those jealous of Imran since day one, raised doubts about high powers commission appointed to compile forensic report, real action on the scandal will be taken by the premier after its submission to him by April 25. However the fact that Imran did not hesitate to proceed against his own people, showed that he is man of words. Happy augury for the country
