MUHAMMAD USMAN
AS promised, government has released pre liminary report about sudden and steep price hike of sugar and wheat without any alteration/tempering. In a separate tweet, Imran Khan also vowed to bring malefactors to book when he receives report on 25 April 2020 after forensic audit by a high-powered Commission to deter reoccurrence of such profiteering by vested interests at public expense. In context of our chequered history particularly, present political dispensation, action of government is unusual, stern and bold. It is laudable but stakes are high for Imran Khan. Reportedly, multiple pressures were exerted to block the disclosure of report. Onlytwo reasons could be cited for the gauntlet which he has thrown upon bigwigs, present inside in his ranks and on the outside. One is one’s self-assurance. Other is being undeterred of its extreme back blow which it may spring, for the sake of the cause, bigger than oneself. First reason does not seem very plausible because Imran Khan is heading fragile coalition governments at the Centre and in Punjab. His coalition partners are a shady lot. They belong to same clan to which leadership of opposition parties also belong to. Their creed is loot and plunder on the name of populism. They tightly join hands when their existence and interests are under threat. They jealously protect their turf. They can switch over affiliations with ease and without qualm. Largely media is on their beck and call and has already been moved to downplay the credit which Imran Khan may fetch out of his unparalleled venture while portraying it a trivial and routine matter. Besides, Imran Khan is not astute politically. He lacks dexterity and shrewdness and his ideological cadre is also novice. On top of this, his popularity graph is also down because of widely perceived timid performance in government by him or his incapacity to run the country. Other odds are also stalked against him. Other reason of being fearless of ensuing consequences for taking the plunge, seems more palatable. Following the day when on 30 October 2011, he struck chord with a massive crowd at Lahore, he faced a tricky dilemma; either to accept joining of seasoned electable into his party or keep them away and rely on his ideological cadre. Imran Khan opted the first proposition. In common parlance, known as seasonal birds, they joined him in droves and rose quickly to positions of ascendancy in party hierarchy while forcing ideological corps to take backseat. It was the first compromise which Imran Khan made on the premise that one could make compromises until he retains the ability to attain his ultimate goal. Either being oblivious of pitfalls or sheer lunacy born of his deep obsession with change, he continued to make compromises to power corridors to effect change. Finally, he reached there as a result of 2018 election, arranged motley coalitions and wining over independents however, he soon started feeling haunted with ghosts of compromises made. The seat of PM became much hotter than he expected.A number of pressure groups emerged. Notably, Jehangir Tareen, Choudhries of Gujrat and a cluster of MPs in PunjabAssembly. Jehangir Tareen assumed mantle of a king maker because of his political manoeuvring to piece together coalitions and trouble shooting. He was known a deputy Prime Minister informally and called shots at his own whims and fancy with scant regard to the vision of Imran Khan. The Choudhries played own game to grab bigger and bigger bite in cake while keeping Punjab government under clouds of uncertainty. Their role in sit-in at Islamabad was dubious. Unsavory demands ofMPs also grew in shapes and sizes.An impression arose that hands of Imran Khan are cuffed. Maladministration/corruption is continuing under his nose but he just watches passively. He is kept in dark and misled. Most glaring example was of Nawaz Sharif who slipped abroad while causing a mortal blow to accountability drive. Besides continuity of other malpractices, wheat and sugar scams by his own people also stigmatized his campaign against corruption beyond measure. These scams proved proverbial last straw on camel back. Probably with this fatality, he saw his lifetime goal of change in danger of being extinguished. He had to act and did it manfully. He has shown the door to his top man who considered himself indispensable. The message is loud and clear to all who infringe upon the limits. This reminded what he did during Cricket World Cup 1992 once cornered. Now it is politics whose canvas is far bigger and complex than cricket and his foes have no equal in mischief. It is true that his moral action has unhinged them but they would hit back. A strong moral sense in high office is a huge strength but bare minimum compatible competency is also an imperative which Imran Khan lacks considerably. One cannot rent credibility in office but one can hire the competency. He needs moreWajid Zia and rediscovered Fakhar Imam to get the train moving unhindered. Imran Khan has already reserved his place in history. He has nothing to lose if fails in his crusade but nation would suffer colossally. Most candidly, it is onerous responsibility of all who could see beyond the immediate. They need to stand up and be counted. Imran Khan needs unfiltered advice and unqualified support. There is no time. We stand on the edge. — The writer, a retired Lt Col, is freelance columnist based in Islamabad.
