From unleashing police brutality on students in the Punjab to detaining political opponents in tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and from pursuing vindictive policies against the opposition to censoring media, the PTI government seems to be employing coercive state apparatus everywhere. The use of these sledgehammer tactics has greatly dented its reputation with some detractors of Prime Minister Imran Khan describing this hybrid regime as one of the most oppressive governments in recent decades. But it seems Khan and his acolytes are least bothered about creating any other reputation.
Those with some basic political consciousness were never impressed by the democratic credentials of the former captain. His political career was believed to have been launched by former ISI chief Hamid Gul who earned notoriety by throwing blanket support behind the most regressive elements and obscurantist forces of society. However, his patronage did not benefit the great Khan much and for years he was considered a political orphan until he was allegedly picked up by another chief who helped erect a new party. PTI’s ranks were stuffed with political rainy frogs who helped him carve out a place in the power corridors of the federal capital. The naïve Khan asserted that these comrades of his were the result of an arduous political struggle spanning over 22 years.
Despite the tainted reputation of these traditional politicians seen flanking Khan, the former captain lured the hapless masses into believing that he was a great messiah, a liberator who would rid the country of corruption, illiteracy, poverty and unemployment. Gullible creatures thronged to his political gatherings where the great Khan repeated the mantra of corruption, enumerating the ills that it was causing to the country of over 220 million people. He lambasted politicians for their voracious greed and their gargantuan appetite for embezzling public funds. The captain promised to establish a heaven on earth, creating millions of jobs and houses. Under his rule children would not be stunted, the impoverished souls would be lifted out of their wretched lives that they were condemned to live because of the malpractices of politicians, and simplicity and meritocracy would be declared as supreme virtues. He stunned the masses by announcing that the prime minister, governor and CM houses would be turned into universities.
Impressed by these utopian slogans, some sections of the population genuinely voted for him while the doors of state patronage were also opened to ensure his victory. He was gifted a pliant media and a supportive judiciary while the establishment showered paternal affection on the new government assuming that the Aristotle and Plato of modern times would steer the country out of the economic crisis, heralding an era of development and prosperity but to their utter surprise the economy shrank greatly, the political situation deteriorated, the social policy collapsed and development projects came to an abrupt halt. The result was disastrous: millions fell below the poverty line, inflation turned the lives of poor masses into a living hell, modest abodes of poor people in shanty towns were razed to the ground while government made botched attempts to address the situation.
Under PTI’s rule, nothing is clearer than the dichotomy between the promises of Khan and his actions. Take the recent decision of the government to dole out Rs500 million to each lawmaker. This was announced amidst fears that the opposition might put forward a no confidence motion. The upcoming Senate polls are also said to be one of the factors prompting the great Khan to come up with lucrative offers. This lavish package flies in the face of his promise of strengthening local bodies and discouraging allocation of development funds to lawmakers, who according to Khan, were meant to carry out legislation and not launch sanitation and water projects. The PTI may put any spin on it but in the layman’s language, this is called a political bribe.
The regime is not confined to offering merely bribes; it has also come up with innovative ideas to reward friends and cronies, shower favors on powerful circles, appease the media and hoodwink the masses. Instead of hiring doctors and paramedical staff for state run medical facilities, it introduced health insurance to pour money into the pockets of the people close to the government. Contrary to the tall claims of free treatment, every service is being charged from the impoverished people. The provision of pure drinking water is still a distant dream. The stunted growth of children still haunts millions of people and millions of women continue to suffer from malnutrition.
The Oxford-educated Khan is yet to take any tangible steps for the improvement of education even in the Punjab and KP where the PTI is ruling. Thousands of schools are bereft of boundary walls, toilets, furniture and safe drinking water. HEC’s budget has been slashed while universities are being asked to generate their own resources through the hike in fees and charges for services. Khan’s handpicked chief minister in Balochistan thinks that the province does not need more universities, refusing even to grant funds for those educational institutions that could be made functional with little government effort.
Imran’s indifference to the plight of missing persons’ families, his decision to put everything on sale, including Islamabad’s F9 public park, his reluctance in according time to reporters who may ask tough questions and his government’s decision to abolish over 70,000 jobs are some of the actions that exposed his sheer hypocrisy. With his U-turns and political somersaults, Khan can only be known in history as the most incompetent ruler and a hypocrite. His sanctimoniousness would erode people’s belief in politics and political leaders.
Those with some basic political consciousness were never impressed by the democratic credentials of the former captain. His political career was believed to have been launched by former ISI chief Hamid Gul who earned notoriety by throwing blanket support behind the most regressive elements and obscurantist forces of society. However, his patronage did not benefit the great Khan much and for years he was considered a political orphan until he was allegedly picked up by another chief who helped erect a new party. PTI’s ranks were stuffed with political rainy frogs who helped him carve out a place in the power corridors of the federal capital. The naïve Khan asserted that these comrades of his were the result of an arduous political struggle spanning over 22 years.
Despite the tainted reputation of these traditional politicians seen flanking Khan, the former captain lured the hapless masses into believing that he was a great messiah, a liberator who would rid the country of corruption, illiteracy, poverty and unemployment. Gullible creatures thronged to his political gatherings where the great Khan repeated the mantra of corruption, enumerating the ills that it was causing to the country of over 220 million people. He lambasted politicians for their voracious greed and their gargantuan appetite for embezzling public funds. The captain promised to establish a heaven on earth, creating millions of jobs and houses. Under his rule children would not be stunted, the impoverished souls would be lifted out of their wretched lives that they were condemned to live because of the malpractices of politicians, and simplicity and meritocracy would be declared as supreme virtues. He stunned the masses by announcing that the prime minister, governor and CM houses would be turned into universities.
The regime is not confined to offering merely bribes; it has also come up with innovative ideas to reward friends and cronies, shower favors on powerful circles, appease the media and hoodwink the masses
Impressed by these utopian slogans, some sections of the population genuinely voted for him while the doors of state patronage were also opened to ensure his victory. He was gifted a pliant media and a supportive judiciary while the establishment showered paternal affection on the new government assuming that the Aristotle and Plato of modern times would steer the country out of the economic crisis, heralding an era of development and prosperity but to their utter surprise the economy shrank greatly, the political situation deteriorated, the social policy collapsed and development projects came to an abrupt halt. The result was disastrous: millions fell below the poverty line, inflation turned the lives of poor masses into a living hell, modest abodes of poor people in shanty towns were razed to the ground while government made botched attempts to address the situation.
Under PTI’s rule, nothing is clearer than the dichotomy between the promises of Khan and his actions. Take the recent decision of the government to dole out Rs500 million to each lawmaker. This was announced amidst fears that the opposition might put forward a no confidence motion. The upcoming Senate polls are also said to be one of the factors prompting the great Khan to come up with lucrative offers. This lavish package flies in the face of his promise of strengthening local bodies and discouraging allocation of development funds to lawmakers, who according to Khan, were meant to carry out legislation and not launch sanitation and water projects. The PTI may put any spin on it but in the layman’s language, this is called a political bribe.
The regime is not confined to offering merely bribes; it has also come up with innovative ideas to reward friends and cronies, shower favors on powerful circles, appease the media and hoodwink the masses. Instead of hiring doctors and paramedical staff for state run medical facilities, it introduced health insurance to pour money into the pockets of the people close to the government. Contrary to the tall claims of free treatment, every service is being charged from the impoverished people. The provision of pure drinking water is still a distant dream. The stunted growth of children still haunts millions of people and millions of women continue to suffer from malnutrition.
The Oxford-educated Khan is yet to take any tangible steps for the improvement of education even in the Punjab and KP where the PTI is ruling. Thousands of schools are bereft of boundary walls, toilets, furniture and safe drinking water. HEC’s budget has been slashed while universities are being asked to generate their own resources through the hike in fees and charges for services. Khan’s handpicked chief minister in Balochistan thinks that the province does not need more universities, refusing even to grant funds for those educational institutions that could be made functional with little government effort.
Imran’s indifference to the plight of missing persons’ families, his decision to put everything on sale, including Islamabad’s F9 public park, his reluctance in according time to reporters who may ask tough questions and his government’s decision to abolish over 70,000 jobs are some of the actions that exposed his sheer hypocrisy. With his U-turns and political somersaults, Khan can only be known in history as the most incompetent ruler and a hypocrite. His sanctimoniousness would erode people’s belief in politics and political leaders.