Daily Times

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has offered some timely wisdom to Prime Minister Imran Khan, cautioning him against unnecessarily prolonging the process for allowing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to leave the country for treatment. He said that Khan should not wear a cross that he may be unable to put off for a long time to come by engaging in such an action. He also advised him to be aware of those that have surrounded him and are stopping him from listening to the voice of reason. This is the syndrome our prime ministers often find themselves suffering from. There is a team of less than 30 people that succeeded in surrounding all of them in one way or the other, sooner or later. Seasoned politicians always caution against such members as they are good only at serving themselves. They change loyalties the moment they see a change in power dynamics. The prime minister should listen to the wise Chaudhry well. There is no question about the fast deteriorating health of Nawaz Sharif. He is subject to many serious illnesses and his life is in danger. Now is not the time for getting engaged in petty matters.

Imran Khan needs to be wary of repercussions should anything really bad happen to his predecessor. History is ruthless and time tends to change every moment. After all he is not going to stay in power forever. There will be tough questions he will have to answer about the treatment of his political rivals on his watch. The condition of former president Asif Ali Zardari is also deteriorating. He, too, is seeking concessions from the government. But, at the end of the day, it is the government’s responsibility to take care of him while in custody. After all, corruption allegations have never been proved against him after years of court trials and incarceration.

Constant criticism of political rivals on media does not always work. There has to be some difference in speeches of opposition leaders and state heads. Heads of states have to answer political criticism through service delivery not counter criticism. The sooner the prime minister starts listening to seasoned politicians like Chaudhry Shujaat the better. Politics of hate and chaos should come to an end so that an era of progress and prosperity may finally begin. *