Ace cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, like the nuclear scientist Dr Qadeer Khan, once enjoyed great respect and honour because of his spectacular achievements in cricket. Setting up a state of the art hospital for the treatment of poor cancer patients in Lahore gave him the status of a ‘Messiah of Hope’ for the poor people who took him as Mr Clean who was destined to make Pakistan what it ought to be. I still remember that he once announced launching a campaign to promote education in the country; however, he consequently preferred to launch a political party to oust the ‘corrupt’ from the politics. Though, his ensuing support to Gen Pervez Musharraf during his referendum is still not forgotten by the political pundits, he is still taken as a symbol of hope by many. Although, I am a fan of Imran Khan because of his contributions in the field of medical health, I would like to ask him following questions to understand his stance on thorny issues facing the country.
First, why Imran Khan is continuously silent on a spate of target killings in Karachi in which hundreds of people have died and assassination of predominantly Punjabi settlers in Balochistan? Would he like to stage a sit-in in Karachi and in Balochistan to motivate the ethnic communities to live in peace? I hope it would earn him more respect.
Secondly, he never spoke about Khrotabad carnage, NICL and Bank of Punjab scams and other mega scandals including Lahore Ring Road, Lahore-Kasur Road etc which involved his new-found favourites in politics. I believe that he shouldn’t be selective in his politics because corruption by political allies should never be tolerated.
Thirdly, will Imran Khan dare go to Dera Bugti, Swat, Turbat, Waziristan, Larkana, Kohlu and to other remote restive areas to rekindle a sense of hope in the poor and deprived people. He even didn’t go to Kati Pahari and Malir to ensure peace there. It is better that instead of criticising the N-League, he should emerge as a statesman with a confirmed ‘No’ to corruption. It’s politically right of great Khan to criticise the Punjab rulers but he should at least not be selective in his politics as this style of politics is belittling his stature which he once enjoyed.
MUHAMMAD AHMAD SAAD
Lahore
