ISLAMABAD; When Pakistan Tehreek- e -Insaf (PTI) came into power in 2018, a reasonable majority of the people had great hopes that its crickter-turned political leader, Imran Khan, was a real change-maker and he was going to be the great leader of Pakistan. The supporters of PTI had dreams of seeing Imran Khan as a real hero of Pakistan, rather super hero of Pakistan who had full-fleged capacity to resolve all those problems which were hampering Pakistan’s progress and prosperity in previous rules of PPP and PMLN . His projection ahead of 2018 general elections was super in real terms. His body language too was like of a saviour. He addressed huge pre-elections public rallies at Minar -e – Pakistan and in other metropolitans of Pakistan. Before going to next stage of the story, one needs to list those serious problems which were putting Pakistan’s efforts to compete with its competitors in the region in jeopardy. These tedious problems were fast -growing debt, unbridled corruption in government system, rising unemployment and shrinking earnings of the salaried class and low income group. The people of Pakistan wanted a leader on the helm of the affairs who could address these all biting issues in possible short span of time. They were hearing long speeches of Imran Khan in public gatherings and had convinced that he was the leader they were looking for. They had reasons to believe in their ideal (Imran Khan). One and top of the list of these reasons to trust Imran Khan was his repeated assurances given to the nation in speeches that he would change everything for good . The captain presented himself to the nation as the most clear headed and visionary leader. He was assuring the innocent public of this country that after taking over the government he was going to weed out corruption from the society once for all. Imran Khan’s repeated assertions to make Pakistan a new Pakistan was so attractive and alluring that even his political opponents had some degree of acceptance of his promises. His charismatic personality and struggle as a cricketer worked in his favour to get him elected as prime minister of Pakistan in 2018. Although, his majority in the elections 2018 was thin, but he enjoyed unflinching support of military establishment. After taking over the power in 2018, Imran Khan’s first failure, as leader of the nation, was choice of Asad Umar as his Finance minister. Asad Umar by all means proved himself as an alien to economy. His decisions started to deepen financial crisis of Pakistan. On Punjab front , Imran Khan, picked up Usman Buzdar , a weak man and political non entity as chief minister of the province that makes 68 % of Pakistan’s population. In Khyber Pukhtunkhaw (KPK) PTI did come into power in 2018 again, but Imran Khan was like a totally helpless man and an outsider even before picking up a chief minister for the province. Shrewd Pervez Khattak had literally isolsted Imran Khan in the every first consultative meeting for to be the chief minister of KPK. Pervez Khattak manged to block selection of Atif Khan as KPK chief minister by telling Imran Khan in clear terms that if he did not install Mahmood Khan as head of KPK government, he would quit PTI with his group of around one dozen newly elected parliamentarians. Imran Khan preferred to compromise here with Pervez Khattak. In the centre, things had started to worsen by January 2019. There were ecos of drug prices scam, sugar scam and so on . At this stage , Imran Khan’s glamour had started to fade out. Now the people started to doubt his capacity and potential as a leader. But yet he enjoyed full support of military establishment. Things kept getting worse, it started to give new height to corruption in the government system. Unmanageable economy started to weaken fast, pushing inflation to unbearable level. The finance minister started to come and go, but no one could stop bleeding of economy. Rising inflation resulted in unbearable price hike leaving millions in total disarray. The cost of living had gone up by more than 100 % in the last three and half years rule of PTI. Millions have become jobless who have no option, but to beg on the roads. Its doubtlessly terrible situation. The salaried class and low income group are in serious trouble now. Imran Khan’s narrative against corruption is.not enough now to fill empty bellies of millions in this country.
Imran Khan’s mindset of picking weak individuals for powerful positions like chief minister Punjab and prime minister Azad Jammu Kashmir quickened his failure. Interestingly, Imran Khan has no ability to accept his weaknesses/ faults and hence he remained incorrigible . His favourite hobby as prime minister is to keep changing his team. There is no one in his entire team to tell him that he and his party was heading for a complete failure.
With humiliating defeat to PTI in KPK local elections, Imran Khan’s start for political end has begun.
