THIS is apropos of Salman A. Bugvi’s letter (Nov 20) in response to mine (Nov 8). I would like to clarify the purpose and contents of my letter which has hurt the respected reader.

First, I want to assure him that I am also an admirer of Imran Khan like millions of other Pakistanis otherwise I would not be bothered to write about the disappointment of his supporters and admirers in his recent political decline and performance. My letter was in no way meant to deny or belittle Imran Khan’s achievements and great strength of character, integrity, patriotism, missionary zeal, persistence and, above all, a burning desire and mission to bring a change for the better.

I merely pointed out some of the shortcomings in political insight and mistakes Imran Khan has made. This was just my humble point of view like many other of his admirers and I am no political genius and expert in politics.

I gave just my observations which may or may not be agreed to. Imran Khan himself has agreed that political opportunists who had joined the PTI for better political prospects are now leaving and that their leaving the party is no loss to his party.

I only pointed out that there was no need to open the party doors to a floodgate of tried and tested electables who did not really believe in political ideology of the PTI and were joining it only to enhance their chances to get reelected.

As regards Imran Khan’s traits of stubbornness, overconfidence and his tilt towards the TTP, it is apparent for anyone who cares to observe. If he was not stubborn he would be listening to good advice based on ground realities and his ardent supporters’ viewpoint.

With his iconic status as a cricketer and great achievements as a philanthropist in addition to his personal qualities of head and heart, he would have been unstoppable in politics and his tsunami would have blown away old and tested political leaders and created new leaders.

His liberal and educated young followers would have swept the elections in spite of existence of old beradari, clan and wadera system of politics.

Had he realised the ground realities and had been more tactful in following his beliefs without offending powerful quarters and lobbies, he would not have been stopped and unnecessarily discriminated by the US and UK immigration authorities who always treated him with respect in the past because of his status.

His political decline is a disappointment to me and millions of his other admirers because we have pinned all our hopes in him to bring a positive change and rescue this country from total disaster.

We have been disappointed too many times by other leaders and do not want to be disappointed again because our one hope Imran Khan does not even get a chance to prove himself by making unforced errors of judgments during his bid to win a majority in elections.

It is still not too late and we are still hopeful that Iman Khan with his tremendous will power and ability to persist can turn the tide in his favour. As they say ‘winds and tides are with the ablest navigators’.

ZAHEER AHMED Islamabad