The fall from politics-of-principles to pebbles
Post-October 2011: ideology and principles were replaced by lusty power-politics. A cruel game with no holds barred. Everyone with any shabby past was welcomed with open arms for political bombing campaigns ahead
He travelled on a bumpy road alone for as many as fifteen years but never budged from his stance (whatsoever) declaring his strength was his belief: belief in his ideology and political principles, belief in people of Pakistan and belief in God. It took too long before his dozen-member movement caught the much-awaited momentum but it cost him dearly.
The voice got louder and powerful but streaks of corrupt compromises eroded its impact with the passage of time also. October 2011 Lahore jalsawas the game changer. Many believe so. It changed not only the status of formerly tonga party to a fully vibrant political force of the country but also altered the ideology of its founder, Imran Khan.
Post-October 2011: ideology and principles were replaced by lusty power-politics. A cruel game with no holds barred. Everyone with any shabby past was welcomed with open arms for political bombing campaigns ahead. With every passing day every principle followed from ‘96 to 2011 had turned obsolete and each word of advice from the true well-wishers was being taken as a conspiracy being hatched by the rivals.
His real strength was his slogan of change: end of status quo, end of corrupt politicians, end of pay-to-play games, end of injustice and end of feudalism. Apparently a negligible political entity had become a giant but the 2013 election fiasco proved he was heading in the wrong direction. They were down from the cloud nine now.
When all other ill-advised political moves like dharnas too failed in delivering desired results, the man who would start his speech with recitation of verses (It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path) from the Holy Quran, fell prey to superstition. His so-called sympathisers started telling him pseudo-stories of black magic, benefic or malefic position of planets in his horoscope, possible malfunctioning of his physical or spiritual chakras (plexus), etc.
When political science failed, occult science took its position. Was Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is also wearing a ring since 2008 in his left little finger, the man who inspired Khan to start believing in stones? No one knows who actually planted the idea in his mind but a ring with a semi-precious gemstone suddenly appeared in his left pinky.
A few months ago, in a presser, curious reporters too raised the questions on Khan’s ring but with wrong connotations. They took it as an engagement ring. Khan brushed aside the speculations in lighter vein and the talk ended. At another time, versatile Khan said he was wearing the ring following thesunnah of the Prophet (PBUH). Definitely sunnah is not wearing a ring in left hand’s pinky.
Believing in superstitions, occult sciences, stars and pirs has been a universal phenomenon. No exception for Pakistani leaders. During the ‘90s, Baba Dewana from Dhunaka Sharif (Haripur) was the spiritual attraction for Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto. They would visit mountains to get his blessings (never forget the beating by revered stick of the pir). Zardari’s Pir Ijaz rose to prominence during the previous PPP regime and was mightier than mighty ministers of Gilani’s cabinet. He would advise Zardari to live near the sea or near the mountains.
Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s propaganda minister, had an astrology department. Indira Gandhi would make all important decisions after consulting with her guru. The Shah of Iran would consult an astrologer from Jerusalem. Cambodia’s President Lon Nol relied less on the advice of his generals than he did on his astrologers. Nancy Reagan would always make important decisions considering the position of planets.
Believing in healing properties of gemstones is somewhat digestible. Crystal healing is being employed in the West as an alternative mode of treatment for many physical or psychological conditions. Wearing gemstones as ornaments is as good as wearing perfumes and attractive dresses. But pinning hopes on pebbles, either cheap or precious ones, for attracting good luck and warding off misfortune is a feeble mind’s food.
No position of planets, no stone and no application of pseudoscience of numerology will help Khan achieve his goals. He will meet his goals with truth, steadfastness, transparency, justice and perseverance. Compromises in the name of realpolitik will further tarnish his and his party’s image. Deviation from set principles of not accepting the corrupt elements in PTI’s fold and its deadly effects can never be countered by wearing suitable stones in a little finger. KP government’s performance and party’s sensible strategies can only cast the desired charms on the voters, not gemstones. Believe in your belief or simply shun the slogan of change, Mr Khan. The greatest Muhammad Ali once said: “It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”
We don’t know under which astrological system Imran Khan is wearing the stone: Indian, Chinese, Western or so-called Islamic astrology or has it been matched with his name or numbers of his name as suggested in numerology? The powdered ashes of Agate, Chalcedony, Emerald, Pearl, Garnet or Jasper may or may not present a cure for numerous ailments as claimed by Ayurvedic and Tibb e Unani but pinning hopes on stones to become the prime minister is simply ridiculous.
The PTI chairman should fight crucial political battles following his own (now neglected) principles and not by depending on positions of Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, etc, and on the metaphysical powers of stones he wears. He must not follow in the footprints of sixteenth century military leader Albrecht von Wallenstein who lost the critical battle due to his faith in the stars and horoscope and his astrological amulet too could not protect him. In Iqbal’s words: “The living nations of the world have won their laurels, the world transformed through the dynamism of their acts; the astrologer’s calendar of the future is false, the old stars have fallen away.”
He said it then forgot: “There can only be democracy when money is not allowed to be spent in politics.” Khan once said. But today he doesn’t mind when his candidate Aleem Khan spends 50 plus crores to win a seat from Lahore. “Personally I don’t think solving corruption is such a big problem.” Now the “leader” abhors a word of complaint against his party’s Chief Minister KP Khattak. “The team that is going to win is the one that does its homework the best by studying its opponents.” Is the lesson the cricketer-turned-politician taught to his comrades but in reality they not only studied their opponents but also adopted their tactics of deception and corruption. He can’t win the battle with the existing team and tacit agreements with “invisible forces” and last but least: his faith in stones.