Imran Khan, one of the most legendary names in the world of Cricket is yet to remain for a long time. To recall for those who are not familiar with the history and biography of Imran Khan who led to an unbelievable victory in Cricket Worldcup 1992 that stamped the name of Pakistan as world champions in the world of cricket.

 

Cricket Legend; Imran Khan decided to step forward into limelight, and stepped into political environment of Pakistan back on April 25, 1996 in Lahore when he formed a political party called Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI),  with a slogan of  ‘Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem’. Pakistan Tereek-E-Insaaf chaired by Imran Khan himself have set following goals:

  • To establish Pakistan as truly Independent & Sovereign State in order to become the Pride for People of Pakistan.
  • Strengthen State Institutions.
  • Establish an efficient govt which could protect the life and property of citizen.
  • Initiate an Educational Revolution, and ensure adequate health services to citizen.
  • System based on Merits to ensure equal opportunity for jobs and employment and enabling assets ownership to poor.
  • Private sector friendly environment to  ensure more investment and opportunities in this sector.
  • Place a STOP mark to the ugly VIP culture, instead setting up culture of simple living.
  • Eliminate draconian laws that give unchecked power to Police and the Agencies or which limit the rights of Citizens.
  • To take the Economy of country to a level where NO Foreign Aid is required, thus setting up a self developed & self dependent powerful economic system from basics.
  • Promote relationships with friendly countries.

Though when looking at the goals setup by the party looks overly impressive but are also assumed to be hardly achievable in a country like Pakistan, where since decades things almost all economic & moral activities happen in a very traditionally corrupt system (somewhat similar to India). Where from Police to Land Management Authorities to Government Institutions,  everyone is deeply stuck into the wetland filled with bribery and favors. Where the elite class rules like the masters, and rest as slaves. The difference between the rich and poor is increasing by each passing day. Yet no one’s a savior to the poor-middle class, but yes some savior’s are busy saving money by any means possible.

Role of Establishment/Agencies in Pakistan:
  • It is widely believed that role of establishment & secret agencies (also led by military) has always been too much into Politics of Pakistan. Even the secret agencies have their Political wings of their own. Instead of keeping eyes on countries Internal & Outsider enemies, the establishment & agencies are deep roots into the political system.
  • It is also believed by many that, Establishment (Military personal) do operate from Behind the Scenes, and can easily make or break any Political Party or its leaders.
  • Establishment & Ex-Military officers have huge investments in shape of Commercial Ventures, such as Hospitals, Schools, Housing Societies, Infrastructural Development Companies  & Commercial Lands. By that it means that Establishment (military) itself is equally involved into Commercial activities (both Institutional & Personal), and have huge stakes in market. Due to these reasons the Military & Establishment have lost its FOCUS on countries Defense against outsiders, and is instead fighting for Power & Business ventures inside the country itself.
  • Serving Military officers & Ex-Military officers (who are involved in their Personal Business Ventures), by utilizing their PR (personal relations) do interfere the country’s Policies, thus depriving the Rights of the Parliament & People of the Nation, and the democracy.
  • Political party workers & members are commonly traded, even sometimes forced to make them join the leaders that are favored by Establishment. Such acts make it truly difficult to let the True Democracy prevail.
  • Role of Establishment has been also believed to be more towards secularism, and far away from teachings of Islam.
  • Due to their distance from Religion, the results are: Extreme level of Corruption, Bad level of Morality, Violations of Human Rights, Rich getting Richer & Poor gets poorer, Failure of Economy, Failure of countries Defense Policies & even letdown to a nearly Failed Estate.
Root Cause of Problems in Pakistan:

To discuss the psyche of elite class of Pakistan, is where one can find the real solution of this catastrophic economic disorder in the country. The elite class includes, military, ex-military, bureaucrats, landlords, political workers mostly. [Though obviously their is a big number of rich people who are rich in truthfulness, honesty as well as money]. The upper class, unfortunately largely supported by the corrupt Political Parties & corrupt Bureaucracy have found great views to easily evade, make-break or even screw the countries already weak laws and justice system. Let it be the Prime Ministers or Presidents (1990s-2010s) almost everyone had been largely accused of mighty corruption records.

The establishment (military personal who are involved in key govt-public institutional activities, to defense policies), who have ruled the nation since the independence of Pakistan, is solely to be held responsible. Weak policies that encourage corruption and abuse of power are the main accusations usually the powerful establishment is held responsible for. These people are given with UN-declared supreme powers, who are favoring the powerful bureaucracy grow more wildly right under their arms. As a result, the elite class is getting richer, and poor person with little revenues and sources gets bitten by the WILD system.

Major Political Parties

Major political parties like Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) already have tasted the addictive flavors of powers of the govenment.

PML(N) which ruled twice from 1990-1993 and again in 1997-1999 for a total of almost 5 and a half years.

PPP ruled Pakistan four times,  1973-1977 by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto,  1988-1990 Benazir Bhutto Bhutto, 1993-1996 led by Benazir Bhutto, 2008-2013 led by Asif Ali Zardari (co-chairperson) thus ruled for a almost 13 Years in Pakistan.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, yet a 15 years old Political party never saw the daylight being into government. Imran Khan the party leader had lost elections twice and is on the struggling side to get into power, in order to rule the already economically weak system.

 

The PTI Bandwagon

PTI after struggling for 15 years with a neutral & comparatively much cleaner interface, finally showed off their Power & Popularity on 30th October, 2011 in a power show organized at Minar-E-Pakistan, Lahore. The event accelerated the parties progress towards getting itself into limelight. Soon tonnes of Political Workers including many ex-military personal got into wide & long queues to join PTI. Till date over hundreds of both ‘Good’ & ‘Bad’ political workers have joined PTI from various other parties. Many of these were part of PMLQ, PPP & PMLN. Shah-Mehmood Qureshi, another well known and well-reputed politician was welcomed into PTI as Vice-Chairman, but cursed by many of his former-colleagues from PPP. Yet as claimed by many PTI is a mixed bag of both corrupt and allegedly good people backed by the powerful Establishment.

Pros:

  • A new face with comparatively clean image of Imran Khan.
  • A third option for the people of Pakistan to choose from.
  • PTI’s comeback is considered good for a healthy competition within the political environment of Pakistan.
  • Encouraging issue based politics in Pakistan.

 

Cons:

  • Allegedly backed & favored by the powerful Establishment.
  • The claims of bringing Fresh & New faces into party were proved otherwise.
  • The poor policy on Disputed Kashmir, and possibilities of throwing the key issue on the back burner, instead of owning an aggressive strategy.
  • Roping in the same old corrupt former-ministers and party workers, for sake of Funds, Power & Popularity.
  • Appeals only to young & frustrated Youth, who are ready to blindly endorse this newly powered parties policies.
  • Compromising on Rules & Policies and High Standards that were once set upon for the party workers. PTI has completely failed to justify this act.

 

Yet, the powerful Establishment having huge stakes in almost all commercial public sectors is once again, actively involved into local Politics of Pakistan, and very busy in making & breaking of political parties. Only time will tell what will be the consequences of their latest episodes of involvement into politics.