Daily Times

Trump divides and conquers by creating a division among groups of people or blaming the so-called “deep state” to cover up his incompetence. Similarly, Khan blames the previous governments for corruption or claims that mafia and cartels are undermining his government, hoping that he will fool people by blaming someone else for his failure. However, just like Trump, people are now on to Khan, and they know that he is a failed politician and has no place to hide.

Besides this careless statement, the Economic Times (October 2019) lists the following problems Khan faces:

1. Pakistan continues to borrow to repay past debt while IMF signs another bailout worth $6 billion;

2. The country faces ballooning federal deficits and losses in state-owned companies.

3. Pakistan has rising inflation (projected at 13%), consumption-oriented economic growth, and low investment and job-creation economic activities.

4. The country has one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios (11%) in the world, as only1% of Pakistanis pay taxes.

5. Khan has failed to increase tax collection and curb corruption while promising to accomplish both. As a matter of fact, some Pakistani politicians and citizens label Khan’s regime as the most corrupt government in the history of Pakistan.

6. Despite implementing a tax-amnesty scheme, it has failed to achieve its goal of collecting more taxes.

7. Despite failing to increase revenue, Khan continues to spend money on worthless projects.

8. In addition to its high-costdebt service, Pakistan spends 17-22% (Rs. 1.3 trillion) of the Rs. 7.3 trillion budget with Rs. 3.500 trillion deficit (half of the budget) of its budget on the military and non-developmental spending.

9. Besides receiving a large share (17-22%) of the budget, with the blessing of Khan’s government, the military gets revenue from its large business operations, such as mining, oil, and gas exploration sectors. Some estimate that the army gets about $100 billion from its commercial activities while the government’s total budget is $44 billion, of which $10 billion goes to the military.

To continue enriching themselves, minus all, corrupt and crooked comrades will switch parties or put another “leader” in power to help themselves. Regardless, Pakistani politicians and bureaucrats do not care about the future of Pakistan as long as they steal the nation’s wealth to enrich themselves

Khan is so naive that he has surrounded himself with ex-PPP, ex-PML, and other ex-party members whose only goal is to keep on switching parties in search of new ways to enrich themselves. Still, he allowed these comrades to join his party, knowing their motives. Sadly, after two years, he is still unable to see how much he has borrowed and spent to accomplish nothing. Unfortunately, now that the PTI comrades have enriched themselves and see that Khan’s popularity is waning, they want to get rid of him so that they can join another political party to get richer.

Imran Khan, who lacks intelligence, confidence, the courage to pose hard questions to the sycophants surrounding him, and business knowledge to question any policy presented to him, is a failed leader. He accepts every project presented to him without any goals, planning, and control. As a result, Pakistan is bankrupt, and people are dying because of Covid-19. Despite these problems, he continues to spend money on projects that donot accomplish anything but provide an opportunity for his corrupt comrades to enrich themselves.

PM Khan cannot make a hard decision. For example, there was a rumor that the Punjab CM will be removed because of his incompetence and failure to accomplish any of the objectives set out for him. However, when the PM and the CM met, he could not fire him. Instead (DAWN, July 19, 2020), “Mr. Khan reportedly assured Mr. Buzdar that he would continue serving as the chief executive of the province till the completion of his government’s constitutional term in 2023.” This means that all the problems, if they exist, will never be solved, or if there were no problems, someone was trying to remove the CM. Regardless, no one should malign a person unless an action will be taken.

I know that politicians everywhere are hypocrites, including the USA and Pakistan. PM Khan, who was criticizing the previous governments for hiring dual citizens, appointed SAPMs himself. DAWN’s (July 21, 2020) editorial states, “It is then morally wrong for dual nationals to stay as members of the cabinet. Now that it is officially known which SAPMs within the federal cabinet hold dual nationality, it is advisable for the prime minister to review their status in the light of his own previously held position against dual nationals in key positions. The prime minister should find their replacements and utilise their services in any capacity outside the cabinet. He should live up to his own words.” Of course, he cannot or will not replace the dual nationalistsbecuase he is either knowing or under pressure from his sycophants appointed them. Regardless, either he is a hypocrite or incompetent to make a decision on his own.

I am sure that either he conveniently forgot his old position against dual citizens or his sycophants convinced him once again to hire their friends to hold a cabinet position. It further shows that he has no principles and can be easily persuaded to accept any unlawful and unethical rule of his sycophants. This, once again, shows that he is a weak leader.

Khan’s incompetence has risked the future of Pakistan. Sadly, due to his incompetence, his many corrupt and crooked comrades in crime use him to rob Pakistan. Therefore, the question is, do Pakistanis want minus one (PM) or minus all (PTI). With minus one (the PM is removed), Pakistan has been robbed of its resources and is heading toward bankruptcy. With minus all (PTI loses), Pakistan will still be robbedby all with a new corrupt leader at the helm. To continue enriching themselves, minus all, corrupt and crooked comrades will switch parties or put another “leader” in power to help themselves. Regardless, Pakistani politicians and bureaucrats do not care about the future of Pakistan as long as they steal the nation’s wealth to enrich themselves.

Unfortunately, Pakistanis may chooseeither of the options (minus one or minus all), but the politicians and the bureaucrats will continue to rob Pakistan to enrich themselves. Thus, whether Pakistanis go for minus one or minus all does not make any difference. The game of robbing Pakistan will continue and will put the future of Pakistan in doubt. Pakistanis have no choice but to live with the same politicians taking turns to rob Pakistan. God save your Pakistan.

The writer is Ph.D. (USA), Professor Emeritus (USA)