THERE was a man highly popular in his country because of his brilliant oratory. The masses were mesmerised with his promises of rescuing the country from inefficient rulers and turning it into a glorious state.

His party contested the elections and acquired only a few dozen seats.

The man did not consent to the choice of masses. He thought his electoral victory was snatched by the rival political group and the press.

After one year of the elections, he marched with thousands of his supporters towards the capital to forcibly assert his right to rule.

The government of the country, after failing to get the support of the army to crush the marchers, resigned.

The man described in the above passage is not Imran Khan but the Italian fascist leader, Benitto Mussolini.

Shaikh Hakeem Ullah
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2014