Daily Times

Sir: Imran Khan’s rhetoric has always been focused on creating a distinction between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the ‘status quo’ parties. He has always claimed that there would be no room for corruption, nepotism or dynastic politics in the PTI, and that this is why it would lead to Pakistan’s salvation.

Now there are reports that Imran Khan himself has made personal calls to certain ‘higher ups’ to allow his ally and PTI financier Zulfikar Bukhari to fly abroad despite being on the Exit Control List (ECL). Earlier, the FIA immigration staff had stopped Bukhari from boarding a plane. It also needs to be mentioned that Zulfikar Bukhari’s name was also mentioned in the Panama Papers.

It seems the closer Imran Khan gets to the corridors of power, the more similar he gets to the veteran politicians he loves disparaging so much.

Murtaza Hassan

Lahore

Published in Daily Times, June 14^th 2018.