Spare SKMCH — one of the few institutions still functional
Before inaugurating the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in 1994 and setting up Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf in 1996, Imran Khan was into the ears of fellow compatriots, trying to invoke the spirit of Iqbal’s khudi (self-realization) and Brand Pakistaniat.
As he inched closer to the dream of realizing the hospital — reinforced no doubt with a spiritual reawakening — he gave nothing away in terms of his future even though rallies organized by Pasban, the-then youth wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, meant for nationwide collection of donations for the hospital were filled with earsplitting slogans of Wazir-e-Azam (Prime Minister) Imran Khan.
Anyone in his place would have been hard-pressed not to feel like a million dollars given the kind of rapturous welcome he received. Men, women in particular, and children — young and old — were virtually at his feet, doling out whatever meager resources some of them could pull, with hearts of gold. It was a wave whose tremolo was felt across the country.
I suspect somewhere in the middle of this fund campaign, Khan’s political instincts were born even though he continued to deride politics as a “profession of degeneration.” Eventually, he stopped fighting himself on that front, especially after a blast at his hospital in 1996.
Khan himself admitted that he realized there was no way to fight back other than to enter the fray. In subsequent years, he saw his wife Jemima Khan being charged of illegally exporting artifacts, which only invited ridicule for its Machiavellian mien.
In 1997, the funding of the hospital was heavily compromised thanks to another smear campaign by the Nawaz Sharif government, which according to Khan, thwarted efforts to collect charity to such an extent that he was forced to globe trot and even invite Princess Diana to make up for the shortfall.
In short, Khan has a raison d’etre for running through the political maze. Khawaja Asif’s allegations of financial impropriety accruing from money invested through the Endowment Fund of the hospital last week were as stunning as these were low-brow.
Since then, Imran Khan and the man at the center of the storm, Imtiaz Haideri, who headed the investment firm, have clarified their positions.
From what has been reported by the media, Khan does not have a place on the Board running the Endowment Fund to begin with; the practice of investing funds thereof is neither illegal nor unique; and the principal amount was safe since the investor had guaranteed it on ‘profit-for-SKMCH, loss-all-mine’ basis. The charges of laundering/gambling the hospital’s funds remain just that — charges.
We, in Pakistan, who know politics like the proverbial back of our hands have been hard-pressed to think why a respected political animal like Khawaja Asif would take the agricultural route — even if he was dictated to.
The veteran enjoys the sort of standing in his party that he could very well have passed on the baton, if the PML-N, indeed, found it irresistible to strike at the root of what makes Imran Khan tall in the eyes of apolitical Pakistanis, not to say even those who disagree with his politics.
Khawaja Asif’s presser, one could only conjecture, was meant to undermine the very foundation that so heavily influences the hoi polloi in terms of what they imagine Khan will bring to the table. It is standard PTI discourse, at any rate.
Apart from the military — their controversial primacy deserving of a separate debate — it is one of the few institutions, built let’s not forget with toil and sweat, in this country that is still functional, that has merit, and whose institutional discipline is nothing if not exemplary.
The PML-N may have its reasons — there’s nary an individual one has come across since the charges were leveled who doesn’t reckon these are politically motivated — but patients who are figuratively on death bed before hope arrives at SKMCH, deserve better than the tirade launched in a frenzied bid to hurt a rival.
Even allowing for the fact that politics is not for the faint of heart in Pakistan and where mud-slinging is virtually de rigueur for kicks, Khawaja Asif’s attempt to run aground his party’s nemesis was decidedly devious.
It makes one wonder if any thought was given to how such reckless abandon would go on to hurt not so much the object of his ire, but steady stream of patients finding hope at SKMCH, a vast majority of whom don’t have a chance in hell to make it otherwise.
These very patients are entirely dependent on the charity donated — particularly, in the month of Ramzan — for their treatment. It is one thing to target a rival but hate for him should not have overridden the compassion these patients deserve.
We may or may not agree with his political philosophy, but few can deny Imran Khan’s public record — significantly, all achieved without political patronage that power brings.
The World Cup triumph made possible thanks to his inspiring leadership is worth remembering alone for how he pushed and willed his ageing body to the point of hurting himself — taking Cortisones only to play on for the sake of the hospital.
I’m a personal witness to the physical agony he endured even weeks after the Waterford Crystal trophy came home. Knowing the man’s integrity and diehard mien for achieving the impossible, I reckon it would take a mad man to set store by what Khawaja Asif let loose.
The writer is a senior journalist based in Islamabad and can be reached at [email protected]
Well written, unfortunately PMLN is so scared that they will not only go after SKMCH and Namal University they will also go dig up the grave of sita white to throw mud on one of the last standing heroes of this nation
Let them bring out Sita White because believe me in response when the tales of Noora Brothers love affairs will surface that will make Imran Khan look angel in front of these pathetic Noora brothers
When Sita White comes up the PTI should bring up the American "special friend" of Nawaz Sharif.
It is all about 1) Name 2) The Man 3) The Phenomena. These all can be put together as Imran. He arouses passions whether one likes or not!
I first saw this young man bowl his first ball in test cricket many many years ago–the leg umpire ducked for cover. I still recollect the sight of Majid Jehangir walking over to him to map out his run. My immediate reaction Imran is in the team because of family ties. Years passed on and i was pleased to be proved wrong. I watched him go from sucess to sucess. Once while in UK a friend of mine came over to me in Guildford Hospital and described Imran as young broken man. I inquired the reason and was told that his mother was in severe pain and dying of a malignant disease. I could not help other than empaties and sympathies. It was indeed a very difficult period for him but he faced it with poise and diginity.
Life moved on and suddenly Imran was the captain of Pakistan and we were in the finals of the World Cup and i was fretting in the fjords of Norway. I wanted to see the match but it was near impossible. I wish i was in UK. suddenly God smiled on me–a friend called and said he had got hold of a decoder and could help if my dish could be adjusted. i invited him straight away and it was a funny sight for the people in the town seeing two grown up men risking their lives by dangling onthe steep edge of a fjord so that we could see a match which no one understood. Our wifes laid out food for us
and kept silent. When Imran and Miandad were batting we were shouting so loud as if our voices would reach Australia. We wanted them to score faster.
To cut the storey short Imran had led by example and we had won. When Imran gave a victory speech we were struck by his pitch for a hospital. Surely it was not the right moment! He should have praised his players. His sucess. had sowed the seeds of discontent . But he had become a hero in the world. Every body wanted wanted to jump on his bandwagon esp Nawaz Sheriff who donated a plot but when it came to contributions the rich inPakistan kept their money out of sight. I was in USA and asked my collegues if Imran really knew anything about building a cancer hospital let alone a
hospital. The majority of them were pessimistic but none could deny his passion. Every one of us wanted him to realise his dream in memory of his mother. The money started pouring from all over the world. I heard Imran was going about on "Tongas" in Pakistan asking for money. The poor people were giving him all they could .Where were the rich? Slowly the dream became a reality despite a bombing and the hospital became a sucess for Pakistan. During this period Imran visited Norway to collect funds. The genorisity of the Pakistani community took him by surprise. I heard a lot of pleasant things about the hospital which i found difficult to believe it in a corruption ridden country which i had left long long time ago.
As fate will have it i visited the Pakistan about 15 yers ago in a similar sad situation as Imran's. I went to a city about 100 miles away On the way back to Lahore i asked my driver i wanted to visit first my own College KEMC and the SKMCH. The first one brought Nostalgia and tears of thanks for having created what i was. the second part proved difficult. My driver did not know the way but anyway we made our way towards a deserted area .We inquired about The above hospital but people simply shook their heads. I changed my tactics and stopped by some young children playing cricket and asked where was Imrans Hospital. Suddenly i was being escorted by cyclists acting as outriders for the car and we were there in no time. I felt like a state guest just because i uttered the name Imran.
i entered the reception area. It is usually the first impression of the hospital is seen in the recepton the way you are treated . There was nothing but courtsey extended to me. When i wanted to make a contribution i was directed to a hole in the wall and i could not fail to notice the a certain amount written on the board from the ?prervious day's donations. when i requested to see a doctor most of them were busy to my delight but i was offered a tour to my delight. The hospital is a tribute to Imran's struggle .All my doubts were laid to rest. As i was about to leave the lady behind the reception desk noticed my perched lips and offered me a cup of tea.
I came back to Norway with nothing but praise for the hospital and recommended my colleagues to visit it as it compared with the best.
Just last year Imran was in Oslo for donations and at the same time there was another Bolywood Khan to release his picture. Imran was asked outside the Norwegian Parliament the difference between the two and he relied "well the other is here to make money i am here to ask for money." On hearing tis the other khan responded by asking his fans to donate money to imran's cause.
Now i read SKMCH is under threar from politicians. Please foe God's sake leave this institution alone. I am writing as a doctor and not as politician. Long live Imran . You have done us proud.
pml n should not critisize SKMH
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