Hunting – it’s in Imran’s blood!

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Imran Khan’s recent diatribes against the lion of Punjab (Nawaz Sharif) might have more to them than meets the eye. If baradari and kinship ties can direct the fate of democratic process as a whole, then surely the legend of the lion-hunters of the Khan clan can come to PTI’s aid this election eve? For what would history be if it didn’t repeat itself!

As the story goes, it was during the British Raj when Khan Baig Khan, brother of Imran’s grandmother, Shakaraan Begum, served as a police officer. He was posted at a police station in the mountainous Soon Sakaysar Valley of Khushab district. Rumored to be a brave soul, villagers of the valley turned to him for help when the complaints of a jackal killing cattle every night had gripped the surrounding areas. Not one to shun a challenge, Khan Baig Khan marched on to the area, accompanied by two foot-constables. As midnight struck, the animal came out to strike. However – much to the horror of the constables – it was not a jackal but a lion!

As one constable ran for his life and the other fainted, Khan Baig Khan stood his ground and stabbed the lion with one hand while his other hand was in the grip of the lion’s fierce teeth. Despite the odds, the brave Baig Khan was able to finish off the lion and free the villagers of the menace. He was himself much mangled and had to be carried to a hospital on a charpoy, where he recovered after a few months.

Imran Khan was known to be close to the brave Khan Baig Khan, and visited him often in Mianwali in the 70s. Could he have inherited the trick of lion-hunting from his ancestor?

As the election eve draws near, and the battle for the hearts and …votes of the citizens intensifies, the legends of the lions and the lion-hunters have become rather germane. While the Sharifs are undoubtedly the mighty lions of Punjab, hunting the lions it seems, might simply be in Imran Khan’s blood.

Meanwhile, as the energy crises worsens, inflation sky-rockets and a new IMF deal promises more of the same, the hapless masses, one dare say, will perhaps not be holding their breath for the resolution of the gladiator match that does not seem to offer them much more than comic relief.

 

 

9 COMMENTS

    • @Salim
      Yes you are right. That is my fear as well. Trait is a permanent personality construct. Where as I am unable to dissociate myself from his playboy past, which I feel is a minutiae under the circumstances, his ability to set up projects and keep them going successfully is what we should be focusing on.

      I wish him success. He is forward looking and if not in power will make a formidable opposition. There is no financial corruption associated with him. Apart from some, most that are associated with him are ideologically driven.

      On the balance he will prove to be a better person in office than those who have already been tested.

    • But the problem is that lion is dumb and has no teeth left. The lion becomes cat in front of US. The lion doesn't know how to speak with BBC, CNN with US. The lion knows only two words while talking to US – Yes Sir, Yes Sir.

  1. Adds a little spice to the current political situation in Punjab. Support Imran Khan to the core of my heart because honestly everybody, we need a change. And no matter how much we praise the Flyover or underpasses at Lahore as one the greatest Development in Punjab. There remains some major logical flaws and hazards in all the construction ("DEVELOPMENT") done.

  2. Politicians usually come with two flavours.
    Type 1. Those who come to politics to make money—-The Sariffs belong to this.
    Type 2. Those who come to politics to serve—Imran belongs to this. Heavens have mandated Imran for Pakistan. No amount of negative publicity about him is going to yield
    fruit. The jewish and the ahamdia card has been played and i wait with abatted breath for the next one!
    The Shariffs and Bhuttos have been around for donkey years —what have they to show us this time around?

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