THIS is apropos of Irfan Husain’s article ‘Ebbing of the tsunami’ (Oct 27). While the writer has done an excellent analysis of Imran Khan’s political follies, he has shied away from saying how disappointing and painful Imran Khan’s political decline is for millions of his supporters and admirers.
One wonders whether Asif Zardari and Sharif brothers have disappointed the nation more or Imran Khan.
Nobody expected any change for good from Zardari and Sharifs but a lot of Pakistanis had pinned their hopes on Imran Khan to bring a change for the better.
A number of PTI stalwarts like Shireen Mazarl and Admiral (Rtd) Jawaid Iqbal have left the party and some others are waiting for an appropriate time.
Similarly, ‘electables’ like Khwaja Hoti, Iftikhar Gilani from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and some other former MPAs from Punjab, who had earlier joined the PTI for better political prospects, have left the party, while others are waiting. The leftover so called ‘winnable s, old guards and the new corporate type recruits are no boon for the party.
The main strength of the party, the young enthusiastic educated and liberals are disappointed with Imran Khan’s confused and cautious stance against the terrorists.
If Imran Khan had persistently relied on his solid support and was not in a hurry to recruit ‘electables’ from the old and tried politicians, new ‘electables’ would have emerged from his young and dynamic supporters to replace the old ‘electables’.
But, unfortunately. Imran Khan was in a great hurry to ensure his sweep in the elections. He also chose to be too cautious to offend the TTP.
The ground reality today is that unless something very drastic happens which changes the fortunes and downslide of the PTI, Imran Khan will not be able to get a clear majority in the elections in spite of still being more popular than any other political leader, to form a government on his own.
In a parliamentary system of government, things are not the same as a direct presidential form of government.
We will probably end up with the same old parties and a coalition government with same problems of weak governance and corruption.
It is all due to Imran Khan’s overconfidence and stubbornness. He is a great disappointment.
ZAHEER AHMED Islamabad