The writer is Dawn’s resident editor in Lahore.
The writer is Dawn’s resident editor in Lahore.

IMRAN Khan came to Lahore a few days ago, which was not an unusual occurrence at all. Many in the city would say he ultimately belongs here despite the fact that he chooses to spend most of his time in Islamabad’s hills and beyond. His party, however, did try to create a special occasion out of the latest ‘homecoming’ of the person they reverently address as Khan.

The need for coming up with Imran Khan occasions and events has been increasingly felt in the face of the relentless campaign run by Mian Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz in Punjab and outside. It is a kind of an early poll drive as well. Mian Sahib with an equally determined Maryam is leading the pack. The others, Imran Khan and, according to their own ability, the PPP, Jamaat-i-Islami and PML-Q leaders are following the route.

The weather will also be a consideration for the leadership that has a history of rushing to Murree and Nathiagali or whatever other resort they can manage at the slightest rise in mercury. This is a very serious question being asked more and more frequently in the plains with the onset of the hotter months.

Can and will the PML-N leadership be able to sustain their protest campaign deep into the summer — into the months when the load-shedding hours will increase dangerously and it will be tough for the privileged to get out of their imposing four-wheelers?

The need for coming up with Imran Khan occasions has been increasingly felt in the face of the relentless campaign run by Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz.

These questions are followed up by concerns expressed by those who are adamant that whatever the level of acrimony, a poll campaign in the most oppressive months of June/July will inevitably be devoid of verve, colour and energy. Apart from various other possible ‘reasons’ for a delay in the polls, the weather definitely has a popular ring to it. Not just the heat, for certain parts of the country rains may well be something to contend with during these months.

The politicians must not leave anything to chance, whatever predictions the weather pundits may make in the coming weeks. The polls are a must to end the conflict that has been raging in Pakistani politics, with the PML-N and its allies fighting to retain power against challengers most prominently represented by the PTI. There are no guarantees that the big election will solve this dispute but it is an option at least worth trying. It is in the interest of the parties that many of the necessary measures be taken before the sun gets into its blazing mode.

One segment of these preparations is the membership drives that many parties have recently undertaken with various degrees of fanfare. For instance, the camps set up by the PPP in Lahore as part of its membership drive were more a reminder of the seriously brittle state the party has progressively fallen into over the years — more briskly ever since the rise of the PTI in recent times. It is obvious why the PPP leaders have not been all that keen on even vaguely discussing the results of the membership campaign — particularly so in Lahore where the sounds and sights still speak of a long and unbroken PML-N reign.

The PTI is trying. It did attempt to use the latest visit by Imran Khan to drum up sentiment that can be channelled into lobbying for the polls a few months later. It had been arranged for the PTI chief to address a few gatherings. The media in Lahore is polarised across, by and large, pro- and anti-PML-N lines but there are certain sections here which make no effort to hide their bias against Imran Khan.

They were quick to point out that the attendance at one or two of the gatherings Khan spoke at was poor. There were in the end a few more robust meetings for the PTI to boast of but the general impression was that from now on the party needs to consistently put up more populated, more vociferous shows in the city to combat the images of resistance aired from the Nawaz-Maryam rallies.

There will be those who will say that Imran Khan needs to be more careful in ensuring not only that he is seen in the company of large crowds, but that he is also selective about what he says and when. Quite a lot of talk was generated by a remark that the PTI chief made during one of his speeches in the said Lahore tour.

It was a repeat of what has been generally ‘alleged’ over the last many years. Imran repeated the criticism in which Lahore is said to eat up everyone else’s share in Punjab — Punjab in turn being a favourite province in the federation. Many people made fun of the statement by the chief which said that Lahore was hogging as much as 55 per cent of the total provincial budget. The theory was that as a beneficiary, the city would not react kindly to one of its own sons painting it as some kind of a usurper.

Seriously? Is this how vain it has gotten? Will a city proud of its place take offence at a remark about it being dragged by its stern administrators into a controversy its people would have wanted to avoid at all costs?

Imran Khan will, of course, have his own pragmatic reactions to these questions, along the lines that define his politics for power today. Many others who are more than just occasional visitors here would disagree. They live here with their heads held high and would — or must — confront any allegations of discrimination with a fairness that should be the biggest asset of a city.

They must be ready to accept difficult answers to these long-voiced facts and fears about Lahore as a beast out to gulp down resources meant for others.

The writer is Dawn’s resident editor in Lahore.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2018

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