Daily Times

PM Imran has come under severe criticism by many, including yours truly, for being indecisive in the delayed manner he and his administration have responded to the Corona pandemic.

Partly this criticism was the result of an incoherent and patchy communication strategy, accentuated by press conferences being addressed by motley crews, giving the impression of confusion and incoherence in the government’s narrative.

The Government’s primary spokesperson, who struggles under the most favourable circumstances was completely overwhelmed by the complexity of the crisis and has been consistently drowning and floundering.

The PM himself, fond of speaking without scripts, discovered that adlibbing in times of crisis is not the same as addressing a public meeting or an audience of silent spectators. In times of crisis the nation needs, beyond the usual simplistic reassurances and rhetorical preaching, information, data and specific practical steps being undertaken. These were absent, in the PM’s previous addresses to the Nation.

But the press conference on 24 March, showed the PM and his team members who answered questions, at his and their best and most effective. This was apparent whenever an answer had specific details on numbers, actions steps, timelines. The PM is better advised to shun his habit of speaking off the cuff in platitudes, especially when he’s sharing specific information. There’s absolutely no shame in scripting words and phrases to ensure that the message is delivered coherently and effectively without umming and awing and mixing English with Urdu and poorly structured sentences.

I see Corona as this great challenge which will bring out the best in us and the PM to recalibrate himself and become the leader we all expected and thought he was

And the media anchors, the so called cream of our media world? What a shame! They came across as a babble of uninformed, petty, squabbling bunch. Self-centred, egotistical, incapable of asking coherent questions, displaying a basic lack of understanding ton the difference between a personal opinion, a comment and a question. They showed to the world their professional and intellectual famine.

Additionally, appalling was the lack of professional courtesy, norms and the pompous and self-righteous manner in which questions were asked. This is not to say that hard, tough, critical questions shouldn’t be asked. They should. But with dignity, grace, good manners and professionalism.

For these “media veterans, here’s a basic primer on how to ask questions in a press conference.

Clarifying question. To get more insights on a particular issue. Can you please provide more details about…..?

New subject question. To seek a response on an issue not touched in the preamble. You haven’t spoken about……can you address this issue?

Critical question. To challenge a stated position. There’s a serious concern that the interest rate reduction is not enough, can you explain why you’ve taken this position?

A press conference is not a discussion forum or a debate club nor a fish market, which is what it seemed. It’s not a back and forth tennis match with the organizer, least of all your PM It’s a forum where people ask questions, listen to the reply, with patience without rudely interjecting and interrupting midway between the answer.

No one, sadly came up to the basic norms of civil social interaction and engagement, let alone meeting the journalistic norms of being in a press conference with the Chief Executive of Pakistan. And please dear journo, dress well. Scruffy jeans and hoodies are for your home not a formal event. It was a sad and sorry spectacle!

These are testing times for every country in the world, even the most formidable economies and countries.

Let us not forget that this country has been looted and plundered by all, civilian and military and the current administration inherited an economy gasping its last breaths, a completely destroyed infrastructure and no money in the coffers. To now be devastated by perhaps the most debilitating challenge Pakistan and the world has faced even the best will be put to their ultimate test.

All of us.

Especially the PM who, we must admit came into this role without the benefit of years of experience, knowledge and expertise in governance, a very different set of competencies from those required for a confrontational, passionate opposition leader, which brought him here. Yet, there are many, even today, though dwindling, who still have great expectations from him, because of his honesty and his passionate and unrelenting commitment to change and bettering the lost of the poor and the exploited.

While one can and should criticize the PM for many of his decisions, especially his choices of many in his cabinet, especially his communication team and spokespersons, self serving sycophants, with dubious academic credentials, who have misguided him, he still stands tall for standing up for the poor, the economically disadvantaged in this time of great uncertainty and uncharted waters.

PM Imran and Pakistan will not get another chance in a long time to rid us of the scourge of its elite capture, its corruption, its misrule and its institutional devastation. I see Corona as this great challenge which will bring out the best in us and the PM to recalibrate himself and become the leader we all expected and thought he was.

In an article written on June 20, 2017, titled Prime Minister Imran? Predicting his election, perhaps more out of hope, I had written

Quote “…….And hence for the sake of this wretched country and its dismal dark future, I think Pakistan deserves a chance under Imran!And we hope that Imran doesn’t forget that people flocked to him because of his honesty and incorruptibility, for his freshness and for the change he brought to traditional politics. We hope he doesn’t forget that people didn’t come to him to see the same old corrupt, discredited faces adorning his stage!

In the words of George Orwell in “Animal farm”

“….Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which….”(George Orwell, Animal Farm).

Otherwise, as I’ve said many times before, it’s back to the stench and vomit of the system and status quo represented by the Sharifs and the Zardaris….” Unquote.

The PM must deeply reflect why those who once supported him wildly, are either silent on the sidelines or actively critical. He must reflect deeply why he’s chosen to be surrounded by people who by no stretch of imagination would make it to ministerial or advisory roles based on their capabilities! He must reflect deeply why his old guard and his party rank and file are so disillusioned with him and his administration.

He must reflect deeply that his only hope of redeeming himself and giving Pakistan a fighting chance is to change his team, cull them ruthlessly, get better people, seek wise counsel, delegate, and be very conscious of the palace intrigues around him. This may have been a successful management style as the leader of a party to balance power groups, but in governance, its suicidal. He must change his inner team of principal advisors; they are not what they appear to be. And if, God Forbid, you fail, history will name this factor as one of the key reasons for your downfall and failure, Mr. PM!

In this press conference we saw a glimpse of the man we thought you were. Become one! Walk the talk. People are tired of rhetoric and preachy sermons; they will see what you do not what you say!

And to our media. Grow up!

The writer is a Geo political commentator / blogger on National and International affairs. Formerly a media anchor, corporate leader