The ‘masterstroke’ of Imran Khan

Self-love or love for one’s own identity is a peculiar human emotion. Viewing oneself as different and superior to the rest of the world is sort of an ailment. While to some extent, having love for one’s identity is acceptable because if a person doesn’t consider himself good, he/she won’t perceive anyone else as good in life. Self-love compels a person to live and move forward. However, when this love turns into obsession, it brings significant harm.

Every individual who perceives themselves as superior to others undoubtedly becomes a victim of the fear of superiority and desires to lead and others under this peculiarity. They want to become a leader, believing that others are less intelligent or foolish. If they are followed, they can bring progress because they possess skills that others don’t. They firmly believe that God created them for a special purpose.

One day, when I heard a video clip of Bhutto, I touched my ears and repented to God because occasionally, humans go too far in arrogance and pride, considering themselves invincible or inevitable. Bhutto said that he was told every time that he should become a hero of this nation. How long could he continue being a hero? He became fed up with being a hero continuously. Now, they should find a new hero. Nawaz Sharif also considered himself indispensable, believing that without him, the country couldn’t function, and society wouldn’t progress. He spent eight to ten years in Jeddah and London. When I met him in 2005, his staff referred to him as “Mr Prime Minister”. Even in exile, he saw himself as the prime minister.

When Imran Khan was the prime minister, one day, while delivering a speech at the Prime Minister’s House, he said, “I am alone here. Apart from me, if there is any other option, bring it forward.” These are just a few examples of people sitting at the top considering themselves not as ordinary humans but as significant figures. Read the statements or claims of these three prime ministers and then see the consequences of their actions. You will understand why God does not like arrogance or pride.

Bhutto was hanged, Nawaz Sharif faced imprisonment and exile, and Imran Khan has been in jail for quite some time. I still believe that even after reaching this state, Imran Khan is being whispered in his ears that he shouldn’t worry. These difficulties are preparing you for a big task. You were born for a significant purpose.

Leave everything aside and listen to the sensational interview of Naeem Bukhari, in which he has made significant revelations about Imran Khan after a long time. Naeem Bukhari’s credit is associated with one major case in his professional history, and that is the Panama case. Due to this case, not only was a prime minister dismissed, but later, he faced imprisonment due to legal proceedings.

If Naeem Bukhari had not taken on any case, this one case alone would have been enough to keep his name alive in the history books. Once, Ishaq Khakwani said that the selection of Naeem Bukhari was a well-thought-out decision. There was a concern that there should not be a lawyer other than Naeem Bukhari in the Panama case otherwise, anyone else could ruin the entire case, becuse the case wasn’t about an ordinary person; it was the prime minister of the country who would not let his power go at any cost.

Additionally, it is said that the House of Sharifs had the power to buy anyone. Naeem Bukhari might have been the only lawyer who could challenge the Sharifs. He had some personal grudges against Sharifs, and Naeem Bukhari turned out to be the right choice. Although some may argue that Naeem Bukhari alone couldn’t have won the case if former chief justice Saqib Nisar, Gen (retd) Bajwa, and Gen (retd) Faiz were not managing everything from behind. However, the revelations made by Naeem Bukhari now are eye-opening and suggest that Imran Khan lacks the capability to listen to someone or act upon it.

Imran Khan thinks that those who advised him to do this or that were not intelligent enough and if they were intelligent, then why didn’t they become prime ministers instead? Therefore, Khan never gave importance to those people and their advice, and he did what he thought was better. He knew better than those people advising him. Look at his decision quitting the government and resigning from the National Assembly; it is a childish decision that has not been reversed to this day. According to Naeem Bukhari, he told Khan not to dissolve the assembly and not to resign. He advised not to dissolve Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies either. However, Khan did not heed anyone, and today, he is in jail after dissolving those assemblies.

Now, the decision of this macho man is benefiting whom?

I remember the last day when Imran Khan was in the Prime Minister’s House. On that day, Amir Mateen and I were invited to meet him. Actor Shaan and drama writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar were also present. There were dozens of federal ministers, including Fawad Chaudhry.

Imran Khan was in a strange and whimsical mood. He seemed to be smiling to himself, lost in his own thoughts. It appeared that in his mind, there was a grand plan against him in the National Assembly, a motion of no-confidence that would leave everyone stunned. Attempts were made to coax Khan into revealing what was on his mind, but he enjoyed teasing and hinted that a big surprise was in store for everyone. He smiled at one point and said, ‘Just wait for tomorrow; we will turn the tables in such a way that everyone will remember.’

Although he did not disclose the secret at that time, the next day he, through Qasim Suri, botched a vote of no-confidence and labeled the entire opposition as treacherous conspirators. Voting on the motion of no-confidence was not conducted, and Khan dissolved the assembly. By dissolving his own government, Khan personally proposed a caretaker government to opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif.

This was a decision that might be appropriate for college or university-level student unions, suggesting that if the game is slipping out of your hands, change the entire game. Neither do you play nor let others play. However, at the level of a prime minister, you don’t make such decisions. You provide proof of match-fixing. A leader at the prime ministerial level does not take such a significant risk. Now, who benefited from this adventurous decision? Naeem Bukhari warned not to do this, but in our meeting, Khan seemed to be relishing his masterstroke. He was thinking about how his masterstroke would fare and Shahbaz Sharif and Zardari would not have thought in their imagination?

One became a prime minister, and the other appointed his son as the foreign minister. And now, Naeem Bukhari, who had advised Khan against it, has become the target of PTI’s derogatory comments. Imran Khan, sitting in Adiala Jail, is still basking in the love for his own identity, thinking that he is alone enough.

What every child in Pakistan knew, that dissolving assemblies was a foolish decision, Khan still considers it his ‘masterstroke’.