For Pakistan’s sake, Imran Khan must never become Prime Minister (PM). This is no idle quip; his value to the country far exceeds that of the PML-N and PPP combined. However, not in the way you might suppose. As premier, Imran Khan is likely to continue with the cluelessness demonstrated to date in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Far from building a better mousetrap, he is liable to break the existing one and then look around in confusion. As an agitator and campaigner though, Imran is first rate. He is the Shafqat Cheema of politicians, with a bullhorn for his gandasa, the perfect opposition. Akin to the evergreen cinematic villain, he displays endless vigour and swagger when on the chase. Then he gets the proverbial girl and it all goes pear-shaped, sadly to the detriment of our northwestern province. It is a fact that Imran Khan’s daily dose of finger wagging keeps the government honest. It keeps them paranoid and semi-grovelling. Every major decision now has an accompanying dossier of explanations. They worry his dissenting voice will drown out the few good deeds they need done for re-election. Politics is all about perception. Imran Khan successfully peddles his variety act of half-truths precisely because Messrs Sharif and Zardari are the opponents. Both have moral track records of a dubious kind, peppered with nepotism and glad-handing. This ill-equips them to make his high horse budge. Imran Khan is also successful because he inspires emotion. People either love him or hate him. His unabashed self-belief perks up the choir while simultaneously inviting naysayer ridicule. He acts over-the-top and the PTI stays in the news. It is a win-win situation. By comparison, whatever charisma Messrs Sharif and Zardari had has long since eroded. They look plain and staid, the very definition of the establishment. Offenders of the faith compared to messiah Imran. Their party ranks full of old timers, out of step with the young ‘uns. Politics is also about pressure. The downward trend of energy costs coinciding with the tsunami march is remarkable. While Imran adjusts another feather in his cap, the PML-N protests otherwise. Of course, falling oil prices internationally are the catalyst but, like the boy who cried wolf, no one believes them. In many ways, the Nawaz government tripped itself up from the start. Overjoyed at the large mandate, they expected the usual honeymoon period to ease into work. A few years could go by before anyone politely inquired about results. Then, out of the blue, sounded the PTI’s battle horns from D-Chowk. The PML-N was caught napping, perplexed by the sour national mood. What of the amazing metro bus, they bleated. The even more amazing Laptop Scheme? We are the good guys! Urban, middle-class Pakistan did not believe a word. After the PPP’s five-year master class in incompetence, business as usual was no longer acceptable. The word tabdeeli (change) took on a life of its own and Imran Khan became its custodian. His greatest accomplishment remains distorting political reality to his advantage. He has forced outright winners to defending bits and pieces of electoral turf while elevating serial flip-flopping to impassioned statesmanship. This is exactly why Imran Khan must stay, but preferably far away from the PM House. Not since Zulfikar Ali Bhutto has any politician inspired a similar cult of personality. As the perennial bridesmaid, he will be a true boon for Pakistan. If circumstance and happenstance prevent us from having a strong government, then his robust opposition will at least keep indiscretions in check. Every yin needs a yang to keep balance. A habitually corrupt Pakistan needs the self-righteous kaptaan to move forward. The writer is a freelance columnist and audio engineer based in Islamabad