These pictures were taken 5th May 2022, 3rd day of Eid Ul Fitr, during my pilgrimage to the Hilltop Residence of the Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, where I pedalled all the way 35 more in love of the country then his celebrity status.
I hope he does not mind my self respect to be as dear to me than his own, who is dear to us because of Pakistan and the general perception of his being honest and loyal which I do not doubt despite my doubting every Politician who not only lie but are disloyal.
This makes me recall an anecdote that many of my colleagues from Dawn added here on my WhatsApp Group would recall. One fine day I spotted Honourable Shiekh Rashid in the corridor of Dawn office in Islamabad. Knowing that he was a politician and would not recall who and how close we were. I casually addressed him ‘Shiekho”, how come you are here”. He was full of his interview with the Dawn TV that I knew was the shirt cut to influence as many minds as the waves reached, something roadside jugglers charm people with a dangerous snake or reptile then sell them the spurious herbal potions whether it worked or not was the buyers headache. I asked the Honourable Shiekh Rashid for a Havana cigar knowing he was z cigar connoisseur and he happily accompanied me to the supplements department to the surprise of my colleagues. It is a different story that he was disappointed as a street smart politician to be outwitted by a common citizen for the very first time.
This story has nothing to do with my today hazardous eid rush bicycle ride, huffing puffing and bathing in sweat to have peddled the steep hill climb to his hill top residence to be told by his private security supported by Rangers that I can’t see the public leader without a week of prior appointment though all were too kind and courteous to me . I asked them about the person with whom to coordinate with and they mentioned some Gill when I asked them for his contact that I was told that he met a road accident recently. I have my sympathies with Gill Sahab and wish him early recovery.
My visit to Bani Gala today was not to become famous meeting the celebrity nor to join PTI because as a Pakistani anyone for Pakistan is my leader both with vote and allegiance. I had some valuable suggestions for helping the country survive and prosper and Peace is the common ground that we share. Everyone here will agree that his last government and his team were too weak to bring about any structural changes in governance at the grass root level for which we have to rise above politics and political parties and mobilise Pakistanies serve the country then a specific party or politician.
I have am my respect for Honourable Imran Khan who is the last hope to many but to me he is the 1st hope for the youth to help serve and build Pakistan after that he took great pains to educate them and induce in them self pride as Pakistani. I hope he is not offended by my own self pride to be on the street but with a peace of mind and clean conscience. I will Insha Allah again take appointment and hope he remembers his kind visit 22 years back to us in Swat for condolence of my Uncle Col Arham Effendi for which as a family we are indebted to him and so his Achisonian Senior my cousin Podger Effendi .
