- If you can’t beat them, join them
The PTI had a windfall of electables this time who decided to bet on the party considered to be close to the army and judiciary. A party candidate from Gujranwala even put the pictures of the COAS and CJ on his poster. Imran Khan meanwhile has come up with a rationale to justify throwing the old timers over board and issuing tickets to tens of recently inducted turncoats. Khan says he has realised that the key to the Prime Minister House lies in understanding the country’s complex political realities, the foremost being that one can’t win elections in Pakistan without enough cash and the backing of the electables.
Imran maintains that Mahathir Mohamad changed Malaysia with the help of the corrupt political class through his strong and clean leadership. To put the record straight corruption had remained a massive issue when Mahatir ruled Malaysia for more than two decades. What is more Mahathir had himself handpicked and groomed the now disgraced Najib Razak to succeed him as PM. Najib has been arrested for involvement in a billions of dollars scam. Imran hopes to enforce discipline on the turncoats, kicking out those who fail to change. But how can one expel those who have invested millions in the party’s election campaigns?
Imran thinks that like ZAB he can stop the army’s interference in politics. He forgets that the army was demoralised after the defeat in Bangladesh and declined to challenge Bhutto till its self-confidence was restored. Gen Ziaul Haq then overthrew the man who had initiated the country’s nuclear programme and brought home thousands of army men languishing in Indian detention camps.
Imran says good governance would be his strength. Khan who is beholden to several old timers a well as newcomers who acted as his ATMs, paid for his travels abroad, made hefty donations for the party’s election campaign and organised party rallies would find it difficult to say no to them when they come to him to seek what they would call ‘minor favours’ by bending rules and regulations for a while. After all party leaders have to collect funds for the next elections also.