The long awaited ‘third force’ has successfully emerged. It has happened under the very dynamic leadership of Imran Khan. The nation has welcomed it wholeheartedly. Syed Pervez Musharraf repeatedly stressed the need of a ‘third force’ because of the ‘royal’ conduct of the two parties namely PML (N) and PPP. The democratic slogan was being used by the two parties to promote their dynasties and it seems that both these parties had an understanding on the issue. Ex-president Pervez Musharraf could not develop the third force himself because of several constraints however untiring and determined efforts of Imran Khan have rescued the nation from the clutches of the two parties and their corruption.
The challenge Imran Khan faces is not small. He, Imran Khan, has complete cognizance of the magnitude of the challenge, but his team needs to be made aware of it.
Some members of his initial selection have made mistakes. Small mistakes, but fully exploitable by his critics. As the sharp cookie of PML-N Saad Rafique said that the new government has been providing laughable material every day for the last ten days. Mostly the contribution to the ‘laughable’ material is being made by his stalwarts in the ‘information’ sector. The comments about the use of helicopter and about Nargis the actress were totally uncalled for and a responsible officer should have been cautious. I don’t expect the level of maturity that Imran has from all his party members. Bhutto also suffered from the attitude of some of his upstart ministers that discredited the ‘revolution’ that Bhutto had promised.
However, I expect him to do better than Bhutto. Imran will do well if he briefs his team members occasionally and makes them conscious that the old traditions of show off, protocol, and high handedness are not expected of his team members. The Manika case is an example.
On the other hand serious understanding and support is required from the media. I believe that most of the media persons, anchors and analysts, are capable of overcoming the challenge of bringing the ‘change’ that the country needs, provided they bring the change in themselves and avoid yellow journalism.
Imran Khan must look for specialisation beyond his party members. Now he must consider the whole nation as his party to support his agenda
In the last thirty years three generations have learnt to behave after the PPP and PML-N model. The show off, corruption, personal aggrandisement and following the rich and powerful and serving their personal interests has been the unfortunate model. Some persons in Imran Khan’s party will need to re-learn and grow up. We as a nation must show the patience and give Imran Khan the three months that he has asked for.
So far the signs seem good. Imran Khan has bridged the gap between the civil and military. His priorities of improving the economic situation of the country, police reforms, and relations with neighbours including Iran, are significant and one can see the signs of a real Pakistan. It seems reasonable to call it Naya Pakistan but the fact is that the vision of Imran Khan is no different from the vision of the real Pakistan of Quaid-e-Azam Jinnah. Imran Khan is attacking ‘corruption’ and ‘favouritism’ head on. Quaid-e-Azam clearly pointed out these two to be the greatest enemies of nationhood.
While Imran Khan is busy with matters on national priorities, soon he will need to, and he should look at, several other issues. The most important of which are Human Rights.
In Pakistan rights are generally denied even to the majority, leave alone the minorities. A respectable nation cannot be built like this. Rights are usurped by the influential. Despite the risk of annoying the justice system, I have no hesitance in saying that Justice is not available to most. Justice is manipulated by those who know how to do it. Cases remain pending for years some even extend to 25 to 50 years without closing. And unfortunately corruption is prevalent at different levels of the justice machinery, as well. The current Chief Justice seems conscious and well-meaning. This is a good time. Imran Khan should fulfil his agenda against corruption and include restructuring the justice system in its cooperation with the Chief Justice.
Senior citizens are a marginalised community just like women and children. However there is a tendency to talk about the youth all the time while ignoring others. While the youth must be granted state assistance, it does not absolve the government of its responsibility of looking after other segments of society. Just because we appreciate the Metro Bus system does not mean that the government is absolved from the responsibility of providing better education and healthcare.
Imran Khan has provided ‘hope’ to all, and he will need to pay attention to ‘all’. His predecessors, the so called champions of democracy only used the dream of democracy to perpetuate their power and dynasties. Army rule was rejected and the public was constantly brain washed against it. All national ills were blamed on the ‘dictatorships’, which is far from reality. If closely analysed, these democrat civilians have caused as much damage as the so called dictators. I am inclined to admit that some so called ‘dictators’ did better than so called ‘democrats’. The ‘dictators’ have a major advantage in selecting their teams. Dictators are not forced to oblige their party members for allotting influential positions. Dictators are free to choose, from the best among civilians or army men, the best person for the job.
It could be an educationist, a scientist, an expert on heritage and culture or an economist. Incidentally the so called ‘democrats’ have never realised the importance of heritage and culture. Imran Khan must look for specialisation beyond his party members. Now he must consider the whole nation as his party to support his agenda. One possible way would be to attach an expert ‘advisor’ to his party ministers wherever needed. Ministers can continue to promote the ‘party’ image while the specialists can provide the expertise required for improving workings of that institution.
The Prime Minister Imran Khan can find many persons of outstanding record in senior citizens who have the energy and knowledge to contribute, he can find such experts in the diaspora who left due to lack of opportunity and he can find such people in minorities without prejudice. Let his party members understand that specialists are not politicians and they are not interested in political power. A true scholar, specialist, expert, finds satisfaction in his or her contribution and achievement, not in a reward or award.
The writer is Pakistani theatre, film and television actor, scholar, public speaker, columnist, teacher and dramatist
Published in Daily Times, September 4th 2018.