Daily Times

Contrary to the predictions, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has managed to secure close to 120 National Assembly seats, thereby winning the election race by a very wide margin. 22 years after founding the PTI, it seems Imran Khan will finally ascend to the Prime Minister’s office, and he will do so without being weighed down by any uncomfortable political alliances.

Obviously, this is a cause for celebration. But the truth is this is where the PTI Chief’s struggle truly begins. Imran Khan is all set to become the premier of a country that is besieged by a looming water scarcity crisis, rising debt, terrorism and extremism, an income tax net that is far too small, a faltering economy, an exploding population, unstable relations with the United States along with healthcare and educational systems that are in shambles.

It is likely that the challenges facing him will be compounded by a bellicose opposition that will refuse to accept the election results and question every step taken by the central government to address the above mentioned issues. The offer Khan made yesterday to aid in investigating the allegations of foul play made by other political parties in this election is certainly commendable.

However, PTI could also be weighed down by some of its own members. The so-called electables that the party has allowed into its ranks are as much a part of the status quo as the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is in Sindh or the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is in Punjab. The PTI cannot claim to stand for change if it remains reliant on the political turncoats and opportunists who have plagued our Assemblies for years.

Regardless, at this point a win for Imran Khan and the PTI will be a win for Pakistan. We here at Daily Times sincerely hope that the PTI Chief is able to deliver the positive change he has promised the people of Pakistan for so long.  *

Published in Daily Times, July 27^th 2018.