Imran Khan’s political career has been full of blunders. He never stayed with what he himself said and promised. Here are few examples out of many others where he failed to stay with his sayings and promises;
During the second cabinet meeting, Imran Khan imposed ban on foreign visits of his cabinet members. But, he himself accompanied half a dozen ministers in his each foreign tour. In one of his visit to China, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Adviser on Commerce and Trade Abdul Razzak Dawood, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal and others accompanied the premier. Imran Khan announced that his government would give nationality to Afghan and Bengali citizens. However, later the decision was taken back due to untold reasons. After the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister, Imran told the nation that he would not allow any disqualified person to run party’s affairs. However, Jahangir Tareen played key role in forming the PTI government in Punjab as he brought many independent candidates on the PTI platform. In fact, Imran Khan made him convener of a task force for livestock and agriculture. Before coming into the government, Imran Khan used to criticize the political influence in Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) affairs. He promised that he would depoliticise the PCB. However, after coming into power, he nominated his close friend Ehsan Mani for the post of PCB chairman. Imran Khan promised that he would keep his cabinet short and will appoint up to 20 ministers. However, the federal cabinet was almost double than he had promised. Imran Khan, in his first address to the nation promised that he will answer the questions of parliamentarians every week during the parliamentary sessions. However, despite passage of 100 days, Imran Khan only attended seven out of 28 National Assembly sessions. Imran promised to make Pakistan as ‘Riyasat-e-Madina’ where everyone will be equal and there will be no concept of VIPs. However, the reality was opposite and practically he done nothing to eliminate VIP culture.
Imran Khan and many other PTI leaders claimed that they would bring the looted money amounting to around $200 billion back to Pakistan after they come into government but later his cabinet members clarified that the $200 billion amount was not a correct and it was based on assumptions. Imran Khan and his close aide Asad Umar used to criticise the previous government on petroleum prices hike. They promised that they would formulate a proper mechanism to determine the petroleum prices. They also promised they would cut the petroleum levy and ultimately reduce the petroleum prices. However, after coming into power, his government increased the petroleum prices a couple of times. Imran promised that he would reduce the electricity price after coming into power. However, the PTI-led government increased the electricity prices by Rs2 per unit. In the past, Imran Khan and Asad Umar criticised the previous government for increasing the gas prices and promised they would reduce the prices of natural gas. However, Imran Khan’s government itself increased the gas prices up to 143 percent, one of the highest increase in recent past. At the time of Janubi Punjab Suba Mahaz merger with the PTI, Imran Khan promised that a resolution would be passed in the Parliament for the creation of a new province in Punjab. However, no resolution was tabled before the Parliament during first hundred days of the government.
Imran promised that PM, CMs and Governor Houses would be converted into educational institutions. However, not only Imran Khan was shifted to the PM House, but his party’s CMs and governors were also shifted into CM and Governor Houses. Imran Khan’s Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood issued a controversial statement about CPEC. Dawood in an interview to Financial Times revealed that the government is planning to review the CPEC projects. However, the adviser ate his words after the criticism on the PTI government. Khan was also critic of Nawaz Sharif for inaugurating different development projects as, he thought, this should have been done by the head of the concerned department. Then public saw him going against his own preaching when he inaugurated Rawalpindi-Mianwali Express the other day. Imran Khan promised that he would never welcome the electables in his party as they blackmail the governments. However, Imran Khan is one of the biggest recipients of electables during 2018 elections. He also justified his decision of welcoming the electables in his party by saying that they know the art of contesting elections. Imran Khan promised he will not include any NAB-tainted person in his party or in his cabinet. However, many leaders including Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak, Zulfi Bukhari who were facing NAB investigations were also members of federal cabinet. Imran Khan used to criticise the previous governments for inducting dual nationals in the key government posts. But Zulfi Bukhari was the prime example in Imran Khan’s government who has a dual nationality. Imran Khan promised that the nation would witness an obvious change during his first 100 days in government. However, he later said his government should be given at least six months to judge his performance. Later few ministers of the PTI started claiming that they had never talked about 100 days. “I will not appoint Sheikh Rashid even as my peon,” Imran Khan once claimed in a TV talk show long time ago. However, Sheikh Rashid was not only a member of Imran’s cabinet but he was one of his key advisers as well. During the first cabinet meeting of Imran Khan-led government, it was decided that the prime minister and his cabinet will not use special plane for their foreign visits. The PM and his cabinet would travel through commercial flights. But Imran Khan used the Airforce One — a special plane for PM in all his foreign tours. Even Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood used a chartered plane for his visit to Afghanistan.
Imran Khan used to criticise his political opponents for nepotism. He always promised that he will appoint eligible persons on key posts as he is against nepotism. However, all his close friends including Zulfi Bukhari, Naeemul Haq, Awn Chaudhry were given roles in his government. Imran Khan promised the nation that he will not tolerate political interference in police and will bring reforms in Punjab Police. He promised that he will appoint Nasir Durrani — former IGP KP as head of the police reforms committee. However, after the incident of DPO Pakpattan, Durrani resigned as head of the committee in protest against political interference in the police department. “I will not take corrupt people in my team,” Imran promised the nation before general elections. However, many key members of his provincial and federal cabinets were facing NAB cases including Pervaiz Khattak, Aleem Khan and Zulfi Bukhari. “I will prefer committing suicide instead of begging from the IMF,” Imran promised to the nation before the elections. However, he not only given a go-ahead to his finance minister for availing a bailout package from the IMF, but he himself also approached other countries for financial aid to take Pakistan out of economic crisis. Fakhar Durrani gave very comprehensive comparison of Khan’s lies in his article.
Readers, then come to another point. Political Parties of Pakistan have seen many bad times. Liqauat Ali Khan was killed, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged, Zia Ul Haq’s plane was crashed and Benazir Bhutto was assassinated but their political heirs and followers never took law in their hands. I am big critic of Asif Ali Zaradri but his worst enemies say that he saved Pakistan by raising the slogan of “Pakistan Khappay.” On the other side what Khan, his party’s leaders and followers done is not hidden. They attacked the defenders of the country who sacrifice their lives and rest for ensuring our security.
Imran Khan’s arrogance remained on peak during his government. He targeted and victimized his political opponents via policing and NAB cases. He refused to sit and shake hand with opposition. Media was also targeted during his times. The point for the people is to understand what is a single reason to follow and trust him? Nation doesn’t stand with the one who attacked the real defenders of the country just for personal political interests.
