The problem with the PM was that he considered himself taller than his political stature. This made him thinking as indispensable. As a result, he lost the support of his powerful backers who had underpinned his political career and subsequent entry into power corridors.
Nazeer Ahmed Arijo
The nation waited with bated breath to listen to their PM on the much-hyped issue – the letter gate. What they got was mediocre and repeated stuff he had already offered at an earlier ‘Jalsa’. The content was the same, the context was the same, and the soft target was the same -character assassination of political opponents and those changing their parliamentary support to the combined opposition in terms of supporting a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. The PM unsuccessfully has been trying to build a narrative that foreign power is behind the no-trust motion recently tabled against him. He went on to claim that this parliamentary exercise was foreign-funded. He claimed that international hands have hired the gang of three to dislodge his government.
First and foremost, addressing the nation was unnecessary as National Security Committee (NSC) Meeting chaired by the PM had prioritized conveying the concerns to the concerned quarters involved. This was in line with the diplomatic prescribed pattern to raise the issue with the authorities/ a country concerned. The diplomats designated for various countries by different countries do send cables based on their assessment. Such assessments can’t and should not be used for political expediency. When necessary, the ambassador of the country is called and he /she is handed over a copy of concerns or apprised of the sticky issues/ inference in the internal issues.
What the PM has achieved globally that international established order, say the USA, finds it against its agenda requiring an overthrow of the government? Ups and downs in bilateral ties are a normal phenomenon. The problem with the PM was that he considered himself taller than his political stature. This made him thinking as indispensable. As a result, he lost the support of his powerful backers who had underpinned his political career and subsequent entry into power corridors. Having lost this support, he lost the power needed to power the coalition government. Cutting him to his size was the outcome of his political arrogance. The PM, in his address to the nation, claimed to have joined the politics to serve the public by establishing a welfare state like that of Medina. This political promise made during the election campaign faltered sooner than expected. Tall claims of economic self-reliance, austerity measures, and good governance were mired in the dust.
PTI government’s popularity plummeted because of bad economic performance unleashing inflation in the country. The overwhelming majority that lives in rural Pakistan was drowning in the tsunami of price hikes. He, in his address, also claimed that establishing a democratic society where the powerful were accountable for their actions was the inspiration behind joining politics. When it came to abiding by the same, he fell short in terms of following. The ECP had served him notice for breaching the code of conduct. However, Prime Minister flouted the calling of notice by the state institution. What the honorable prime minister forgot was that in Islamic society rulers have no immunity from accountability. It is pertinent to mention here an episode highlighting democratic practice followed by some others elsewhere.
Jacinda Arden, the Prime Minister of New Zealand once went up to the hotel in her country to have a cup of coffee. The hotel staff declined to entertain the PM in question as it would have violated the Covid SOPs prioritized by the state authorities. The PM in question had left the hotel without insisting on the hotel staff treating her exceptionally. This is how democratic minds behave and act. PTI supremo cultivated a high moral ground having said he would not allow himself to be blackmailed, under such circumstances, would kick out the chair. It proved to be a tall claim again. He used to call the Punjab CM, Sardar Usman Bozdar, Wasim Akram plus thus to rubbish speculations of replacing him. Faced with a no-trust vote, the federal captain sacrificed his provincial captain to save his premiership. Instances such as these, do demonstrate the volte-face of Imran Khan thus proving himself not different from his predecessors. During the live speech, the PM termed his political opponents and those changing their loyalty subsequently supporting a no-trust vote on Sunday as traitors. Invoking treason for political adversaries and those unwilling to support the PTI-led government is nothing but political depravity. While building a politically-motivated narrative against the US, Prime Minister cultivated American dictates-“With us or with them”. Those supporting the party in power are honest and democracy-lover, those not…are aiding the enemy. One is dismayed that this mindset is in plenty. Not only the PM but PTI supporters and workers are doing the same .Dare disagree with PTI supporters; they issue you the certificate of being an anti-state mindset. PTI has presided over this political intolerance. They have divided this nation, media, and academia. And they will have to bear the brunt of this divide in the years to come. One of the biggest blunders made by the party in power was undermining the political process i.e. taking other political forces on board to find solutions to pressing problems faced by the masses.
The PM, through his speech, appealed to the youth in an apparent bid to launch a revolt reminiscing the Turkish uprising against the ongoing parliamentary exercise, set to send his government home packing. The Turkish people had stood like a rock against the military coup, pouring cold water on the ugly scheme of conspirators in Turkey. But, Pakistan is not Turkey nor Imran Khan is Receb Tayyab Erdogan. Demographic and political support must be weighed before such wishful outcomes. Imran khan’s support bases are both urban and well-off. They are is exactly unaware of the economic hardships faced by the vast majority.
Euphoria emanating from this selective section of the society must be over. Besides, the house of Imran Khan is not built with concrete material called democratic ideals once held dear. This entity does crumble like a house of cards. The combined opposition has convincingly commented on his speech saying that to prolong his power, the PM is unleashing social, economic and security issues for the country. While commenting on the PM’s speech, Abdul Basit, a seasoned diplomat, on the one hand, expressed his pleasure over the sanity that prevailed in the National Security Committee( NSC ) meeting regarding the issue of letter gate, on the other, expressed his displeasure over the outage expressed by the PM and called it politically -motivated outburst.
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Nazeer Ahmed Arijo, an educationist and a freelance writer. nazeerarijo@gmail.com
