Region
A Wing and a Prayer
The Pakistan Prime Minister follows his own gut-feeling and that of his
soulmate to save the country from confirmed scoundrels and convicts.
While addressing the Azadi Parade in Gilgit recently, Imran Khan said that he will now concentrate on the rule of law as, during the last two years, his entire focus had been on putting Pakistan’s economy in the right direction. He further declared his resolve to oversee state institutions himself to ensure that powerful convicts trying to blackmail the government were made to face the law.
However, despite his promise to punish those involved in wheat and sugar scams - including some of his associates - the PM seems to have allowed the issue to die a slow death. Also, we just heard of NAB’s interest in PTI’s role regarding the Roosevelt Hotel; the Party’s foreign funding case is also there.
Fighting a full-fledged war with the PDM will further distract PTI from its much-neglected task of poverty alleviation and price-control of essential items. Remember, in his third year, Imran Khan has announced his intention to find out the causes of galloping inflation. Despite his supposedly 22-years struggle, followed by over two years in government, the PM seems to be a complete stranger to the system and finds comfort only in the company of his so-called Tigers.
The PM wants the Tigers Force’s role in the price control campaign for which it lacks specialist knowledge, experience, powers and authority to take remedial actions at various stages, such as bringing the produce from its points of growth/manufacture/import to the retail outlets. With the necessary government infrastructure already available to exercise control over various stages and also to prevent hoarding and smuggling, what is needed more is to activate and reinforce the system and to ensure timely decisions and prompt implementation.
The government has fixed the minimum support price for wheat from the coming crop at Rs 1,650 per 40 kg bag against the Sindh government’s proposal of Rs. 2,000 per bag while the Punjab government suggested Rs 1,600. Fixing a low procurement price would theoretically mean a lower price for the end consumer. However, an unduly low price could discourage farmers from growing wheat and switch to some other crop, causing wheat shortage and necessitating costly imports, thus resulting in the exact opposite of what is intended. The answer lies in fixing a proper procurement price, supplemented by efforts to increase the yield per acre by facilitating use of good quality seeds and fertilizer and better use of water through lasers, land-levelling and drip irrigation. Unfortunately, in recent days, protesting Punjab farmers were subjected to baton charge, tear gas shelling and water cannons and one farmer died later in the hospital; this negates PM’s claim of being pro-poor.
All coalition partners have complained to the PTI about shoddy treatment and the PML-Q expressed its anger by skipping the PTI lunch for coalition partners, while the BNP-M had parted ways earlier. Imran Khan gladly accepted compliments from foreign governments and institutions for the superb handling of COVID-19. The fact is that it was God’s mercy which saved us. It was the NCOC which was monitoring the situation and recommending strict measures in consultation with the provinces, sometimes ignoring Imran Khan’s firm opposition to complete lock-downs. Also, the President unnecessarily involved himself in the process by agreeing to SOPs with religious scholars for regular prayers at mosques which were mostly ignored. The PM had rejected the use of police in such matters. No seriousness was visible about coronavirus SOPs at the recent PTI public meetings in Swat and Hafizabad despite the second wave of COVID-19, which became more lethal with the onset of winter, causing a steep rise in infections and deaths.
The PM seems to be overconfident about the recent improvement in some aspects of the economy, which could prove temporary and could evaporate. Shockingly, despite strong advice from colleagues, Imran Khan refuses change of the top leadership in the Punjab which has more than half of Pakistan’s population. A clue to this rigidity was provided by Imran Khan’s recent interview with a German journalist, during which he is reported to have said, “Only a fool doesn’t talk about everything with his wife” and added, “She has great wisdom. I discuss everything with her, also problems I face in government, dealing with complex situations. She is my soul mate, my companion. I would not have survived without her.”
Wikipedia describes Bushra Bibi as a known and respected Sufi scholar, spiritual mentor and faith healer, also referred to as Pir or Murshid, which is what is believed to have attracted Imran Khan to her, and that is where - as a brain-washed disciple - he probably gets all his inspiration and conviction from. Fully convinced that his salvation and that of the nation lies in unquestioned obedience to the Murshid, why would the PM care about anything or anyone else?
This suicide bomber-like single-mindedness of the PM is simply unacceptable and calls for fresh elections, of course, with confirmed scoundrels and convicts kept out.
![]() The writer is a freelance contributor with interest in regional, South Asian and international affairs. He can be reached at hashmi_srh@hotmail.com |
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