The destabilizer

Imran Khan has always had a penchant for derailing his own political apple cart. After his removal as PM via a no-confidence vote, instead of forming a strong opposition in parliament, he chose to get his MPs and MNAs to resign from the assemblies en masse. Later on, he crossed all red-lines by, in my view, whipping his supporters into a frenzy, leading to the May 9 attacks on state installations. This last act invited strong retaliation from the state. However, despite the crackdown on the PTI, the voters have largely backed the party in the recent elections.

It was expected that Imran might have learnt some lessons from his past mistakes. But lo and behold, he is apparently once again refusing to talk to the PML-N and PPP. If that was not enough, he has now reportedly sent a letter to the IMF asking them not to approve a much-needed loan to Pakistan unless the election results are audited. This inflexible and anti-state behavior of Imran Khan is resulting in the wastage of his strong public support and strengthening the perception that it would be better if he and his party are kept at bay.

Gulsher Panhwer

Johi