PTI Problems: Imran khan The Real Villain

                                      PTI Problems: Imran Khan The Real Villain

Imran Khan PTI struggled for years until on day of reckoning 30th October 2011 "Lahore Minar- E- Pakistan Rally' was held, he woke up from a deep slumber and his life suddenly took a twist when from a cricketing role model he became a popular politician as well.  His campaign was built on popular slogans like corruption, Anti Americanism ( like roti. kupra, makaan), which sells like a hot cake in Pakistani conservative society, he held many rallies and Dharna's against Drone's and American invasion of Afghanistan and its growing influence in Pakistan.

30 October Lahore Rally

According to his critic's, he was fully supported by then ISI chief General Shuja Pasha, who planned and executed his  pre 30th October campaign. What Imran did, very cleverly and shrewdly was to lure the youth with slogans of Corruption, Muk Maka between major parties, Drones strike in tribal belt, rough and odd lingo against the political elite, promised a fight against  status quo forces with his youth bandwagon. The youth which used to follow Imran Khan  as a cricketing star was instantly attracted to him and secondly Zardari Regime failed miserably and Mian Nawaz Sharif PMLN who had nightmarish experience of nineties when he was twice thrown out of the Government just because he challenged the might of unchallengeable Bosses of Pindi and finally was exiled after October 1,999 military coup, stuck to principles' laid down in the "Charter of democracy".

 Imran Khan PTI became an instant hit after post 30th October Lahore rally, from a TV talk show star to a political reality. Our  Media which is still  in its infancy, had never witnessed such humongous and enthusiastic rally except when BB festive return to Pakistan and Nawaz Sharif historic Long March for judges restoration, took it as an opportunity and blew "Kaptaan's" rally out of proportion but some saner elements termed this success as the beginning of a real test with long and hard political battle ahead.

In his historic 30th October rally Imran Khan had promised to wage a war against corruption, status quo and forces responsible for supporting the influence of America in Pakistan . But unfortunately, couldn't stick to his promises of 30th October. We witnessed countless political stalwarts joining his party and he himself held numerous Press Conferences sitting along side those electable and  proudly announcing his victory. He held number of Public rallies where he very arrogantly talked about these electable and compared them with "wickets" and  challenged Nawaz Sharif PMLN and Zardari that he was going to shatter their wickets with one ball. But during these rhetoric's and flow, he forgot one thing completely that Youth was attracted to him because he had promised them a "change" but rather gave a new leash of life to all that political garbage who either lost in 2007-08 GE or remained part of Mushraf famous Local Body Government literally bankrupting many cities and mainly those who were unhappy within the main stream parties. What baffles people, how on earth these old horses and burnt forces can bring a change??. Rather they have created a confusion in PTI ranks and started a battle between old and new ones damaging PTI chances in next GE.

Imran Khan PTI popularity sky rocketed after 30th October Lahore rally and reached it's pinnacle in Karachi on 25 December 2011, when another massive rally was held at Quaid's Mizar. But many were distressed, Media had started comparing that rally with 30th October Lahore rally, where people sitting on both the stages changed the whole scenario, loyalist were taken over by turn coats. Imran's slogan of change and Anti Americanism died, when a foreign Minister in Musharraf's  and one from Zardari's cabinet were sitting on his right and left. Imran very proudly  announced in Karachi rally that another wicket had fallen that is of Sardar Asif Ahmad Ali, who very recently alleged Imran that he had betrayed him as according to him Imran Khan promised him a ticket for National Assembly when he joined the "change bandwagon". Similar is the case of another turn coat Inam -Ullah- Niazi who went a step further maligning Imran with some serious allegations of personal sort. Politicians like Leghari's and Boson abandoning PTI and contesting the 2013 GE independently thinking PTI a liability, even reports are coming out that Shah Mehmood Quershi VC of party contesting independently from Sindh??.

                                                               Electable's joining PTI

Imran's slogan of 'Change' and getting rid of corruption, American influence and status quo was buried by Imran himself, accepting all those who remained part of that system for ages. Imran's lack of vision and political wisdom has let him down and cost his party dearly. Those who helped his rise, fail to understand simple philosophy, if this was the end result then why all this struggle for nothing, these young minds are very innocent and difficult to handle as they do not understand the intricacies of politics, they can be changed, manipulated very easily and their loyalties never lost long if you disappoint them.

Secondly Imran intentional decision or fed to him rightly or wrongly, to target one party (PMLN) while ignoring the real culprits PPP, their coalition partners  ANP and MQM particularly, raised many eye brows and Imran's continuous rhetoric's against PMLN back fired  badly. His famous quote "Mian Sahb Jan Dio Sadi Wari Aan Dio"etc in every  rally became talk of the town for a while but as  time began to fade and his  charm began to diminish, IK popularity also started to suffer. His opposition of Punjab's developmental projects like Metro, Dannish Schools, infrastructure etc while ignoring other provinces, made youth very apprehensive. Criticism for the sake of criticism, making epidemic like "Dengue' a political issue which was latter controlled admirably by CM Shahbaz led PMLN government, infect many such examples can be cited which have back fired and as they say in politics, every mistake you make, is always associated with some cost in politics.

Imran Khan's rude behaviour and arrogance against his opponents, actually made matter worse  in "Social Media" which used to be a strong forte of PTI  along with Electronic Media, because presently Social Media is considered to be the main source of opinion making that trickles down to Electronic Media  as every Anchor and Print Media personality is somehow associated with Social Media. Imran attitude and arrogance is reflected in many PTI young followers who are being recognised as "Trolls" in social media. one wouldn't blame them much because youth always needs to be handled carefully and wisely as youth is full of life, hope and exuberance. Nawaz Sharif respects his opponents and stable personality image is reflected in his followers. Imran Khan reflects ego plus arrogance in his followers which is denting his reputation and prospects in Social Media .

Imran Khan decision of holding Intra Party elections after accepting all those turn coats, was the final nail in the coffin, because it is almost impossible for the middle class and young office bearers to fight all those "Wadehra's" and "Business Tycoons". As it turned out to be, these influential opportunists took over PTI, all the major portfolios and offices were hijacked by influential figures except few including the Chairman portfolios which remained with Imran Khan. As Imran Khan often said in electronic Media and Public appearances that its Money versus passion but unfortunately the case was reversed in party elections because opportunity was provided to political opportunists and they grabbed it with both hands. Imran Khan failed to learn from his arc rival PMLN who also held Intra party elections, which was long and tiring process too but they started it in 2009-10 and finished  in 2011-12, while PTI started their exercise in 2012 and finished it  in two months before elections, creating fissures within the party and a battle between new and old ideology started. Again Imran proved his lack of vision and short sigthtedness. This rift has continued in awarding of tickets, those who were denied tickets have made serious allegations against party leadership, threatening mass resignations, leaving party in turmoil while their rival PMLN is doing it methodically with minimum of fuss.

 Imran Khan seems to be main cause of "PTI Problems and Proving The Real Villain" as far as the GE are concerned because he himself, has to be blamed for back tracking from his original agenda and caught in the same old formula of electable and status quo politics While his  rival PMLN trapped him very smartly and out manoeuvred him, strengthening their party in all four provinces, is absorbing the electable in all the provinces while not disturbing the main core of their party, that's why  few new ones are holding major portfolios in their party and at the same time a rare one got a place in the Parliamentary Board awarding the tickets. Right now, PMLN  has the best available candidates in all the Provinces, even in Sindh they are in a position to field  best possible candidates against PPP, while unfortunately PTI is non-existent in Baluchistan and Sindh and whole focus has  been diverted to Punjab and KPK.