No one can deny the sincerity, honesty, capabilities and dedication of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI). He joined national politics after putting Pakistan’s name in the list of cricket world champion’s, but except in the 2002 general election, the PTI has been considered a party outside of parliament.
Not only at present, but the PTI has been considered a party of youth ever since its inception and on these grounds, a reasonable number of youth in each and every nook of the country are joining the party with a soft corner for Imran Khan. Besides, gray-haired, seasoned and progressive minded Meraj Mohammad Khan, former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor Owais Ahmad Ghani, former VC of Peshawar University Dr Abdul Mateen remained active members of the PTI, however, none is associated with the party anymore.
Amongst them, Ghani was lucky to have been blessed with lucrative governor’s office by former military dictator Pervez Musharaf and even after Musharaf’s ouster, Ghani remained in the office for over two years. Since February 2008 general elections, Khan has been pin-pointing the drawbacks, failures and inefficiencies of the present government at every forum.
He has been demanding an early end to the present regime and urging his workers to initiate preparations for the next general election. And all those disheartened by other political parties are thronging PTI camps. When Musharaf entered into a battle with Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in 2007-2008, the PTI played a pivotal role in the movement for the independence of the judiciary. At that time, Khan moved closer to the Jamaat-e-Islami.
Now the PTI has apparently taken the role which Islami Jamiat-e-Tulba had in the past. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a former IJT activist is leading the PTI and in the latest development, the JI and PTI have entered a pre-poll alliance, which might be more beneficial for the JI. Like other parts of the country, reshuffling in political parties is underway and a large number of people are engaged in joining and resigning one party or the other.
In this situation, the PTI is also attracting the people at various levels. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, almost all workers and stalwarts of the PTI are new comers in politics. A couple of days back, a young Nawab from Mardan, Omar Farooq Khan Hoti, also announced joining the PTI. Farooq Hoti is son of Khawaja Mohammad Hoti, who occupies a berth in the National Assembly on an ANP ticket.
Considering the political background of these new PTI workers and members, it was observed that a majority had been disheartened by their former parties, while others had been left confused by the existing politico-economic condition of the country. Still others aspire to realise their dream of accessing the musical-chairs in power corridors. Such associations might enable Khan to ensure maximum audiences in his public meetings, but it seems hard for him to materialise his vision of “getting rid” of what he calls the corrupt political system and leaders.
Instead of depending on disgruntled, disheartened, confused and frustrated elements, Khan needs to remain focused on his success as a social worker, which he proved with the establishment of Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore. Khan is engaged in construction of cancer hospitals in Peshawar, Karachi and Islamabad as well and instead of expecting miracles from these confused, disgruntled and frustrated politicians, Khan needs to maximise his efforts on strengthening the Shaukat Khanum Hospital network, which might enable him to serve the masses better.
