By Deepak Joshi Pokhrel
Politics in South Asian countries is very unpredictable and uncertain. It tends to surprise many raising their eyebrows. This is evident in the recent political upheaval in Pakistan where the cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case under the National Accountability Bureau ordinance of 1999. The arrest of the former prime minister and chief of Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf has brought the country to a boil with the internet down and curfew slapped in several provinces of the country.
Since his ouster last year, Khan has been selling the narrative that there was an external actor’s involvement in his displacement. This claim gained momentum with his supporters despite losing the no-confidence motion with 174 members voting against him. As expected, the former prime minister blamed the United States and Pakistani Army for his downfall accusing them of installing an imported puppet government.
In a discussion with media persons, Khan even went on to say that he was punished for embracing the independent foreign policy as he had decided to visit Russia following the Ukraine invasion. One step further, he blamed the Pakistani Army for dancing to the external tunes and interfering in politics. However, political pundits argued that he exploited anti-American sentiments and provoked people into political turmoil.
Ever since Khan bid adieu to cricket and joined politics, he has commanded the media spotlight for good and bad reasons. The Daily Times reports that Khan is the most popular leader in Pakistan with 61 per cent of people having positive views about him. The survey conducted by Gallup Pakistan found him the most sought-after politician in Pakistan. This popularity surged even further since he was ousted from power in April last year through a no-confidence motion.
However, there is a dark side of Khan as well. Khan is infamous for making U-turns when he sees himself politically vulnerable. In his interview with Voice of America, the former PM mocked General Bajwa saying the “super king” was responsible for his ouster and not the US. In the days that followed, Bajwa and Khan parted ways as he said that Bajwa was exerting pressure on him to forge a friendly relationship with India.
Reports say that Khan’s strategy has been to maintain pressure on the country’s corrupt political parties by building a narrative and dividing the society into “the pure people” and “the corrupt elite”. Reports also state that Khan has been good at it and instigated people for fighting against the intruders and safeguarding their nation.
No doubt his relationship with General Bajwa has severed in recent times. However, it was General Bajwa who helped him to attain the caveat position. In plain words, Imran himself was an army protégé. Without its support, it would have been difficult for him to win the election.
Irrespective of his inconsistent statement, one thing is very clear. Khan has managed to strengthen his position after losing the no-confidence motion. At a time when the economy was nosedived, foreign reserves depleted and inflation was at an all-time high, Khan was enjoying his position riding on the nationalist sentiments. His much-touted initiative “tabdeeli” also failed to gain currency in the wake of the weak economic consequences. Though many saw him as responsible for Pakistan’s economic situation, political events unfolded in such a manner that he was able to turn the table against his opponents.
Many say that Khan’s strength has been his street power constituting mainly the urban youth. His argument that his ouster was a conspiracy has struck a chord with the common people, mainly the youth who detest the army’s frequent political interference. This is substantiated in the protest across the country after his arrest. The protestor mainly youth sprung into the street shouting against the present government. The irritated youth vandalized the government property resorting to violence. For his supporters, it seems Khan can do no wrong. “Whatever story he comes up with, right or wrong, rational or irrational, people support him,” Samina Yasmeen, director of the Centre for Muslim States and Societies at the University of Western Australia, told Time magazine.
After his arrest, there have been questions about who will emerge as the party’s new leader who can carry forward his street-level fighting with similar charisma and appeal. There is speculation that this arrest was to make him ineligible to contest the upcoming elections. However, of late, Khan has been released following a Court order.
According to political analysts, the blame game is to continue until the election this year.
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