IN the wake of the Panama scandal, Imran Khan has once again declared his intent to cast his net to catch Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

This time, to the relief of federal ministers, police, administrative officials, journalists and others in Islamabad, the PTI chief has in mind a sit-in outside the Sharifs’ Raiwind estate in Lahore.

Since this would mean taking the battle deep into Sharif turf it is very likely that the PML-N cadre, especially its more belligerent elements, will target areas where Mr Khan commands influence.

Already, Mr Khan’s Shaukat Khanum Hospital is under attack. While no doubt this has earned him some sympathy, it is not surprising that divisions within the ranks of the party have only drawn ridicule.

But more importantly, the PTI leader, who has pledged to dislodge the prime minister and his ‘corrupt’ team, is going to be asked some probing questions about his own performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

These questions are given currency by the emergency situation in the province brought about by the recent flash floods and other rain-related accidents.

Mr Khan is not your usual Pakistani leader opposing the government. He already wields substantial power. In KP, his party has been trying to set a new precedent in governance for the last three years.

It is not as if Mr Khan has helped form a government which he now patronises and controls from behind the scenes. He is very visible and does visit the province in times of distress — even if his decision to celebrate the party’s Foundation Day at a time when the KP is in the grip of an emergency caused by nature is debatable.

It is well known that the PTI’s debut performance in government is being closely monitored by those who have taken upon themselves the task of forecasting the party’s future. But the party chief must heed a reminder.

Mr Khan — more than his party, his chief minister, ministers or other officials in KP — must display an ability to lead from the front, as he generally does when he finds causes to champion as a politician from the opposition camp.

He needs to put up a good show while at the helm in KP, which is quite adept at voting out — with a shrug — parties that do not perform well while in government. It is a delicate situation and Mr Khan must not lose his balance.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2016