Imran’s charm is dwindling

Qadri’s mention of making 16,000MW power in Sharifs’ mills funny

ISLAMABAD: Even though he could only muster a much less than expected crowd in Lahore, PTI Chief Imran Khan (IK) remained focused on the 2018 general elections preparations through a façade of PanamaLeaks. 

As IK toured Lahore, he made his worst political fears known in so many words — Sharifs might clinch the next elections too if allowed to remain in power. Throughout, he counted, recounted and took pains to repeat and spin allegations of misgovernance and corruption against the PML-N. 

The only persistent trouble with the PTI bandwagon, which remains in place till date, is to explain the complex PanamaLeaks saga in an easy-to-understand language, terminology to the public at large. 

At the same time, they must be given some credit for using the whole episode to their political advantage in whatever manner possible by putting psychological and political pressure on the ruling PML-N.

Employing all his heroic charms and persona, and with  a crowd of a few thousands, IK literally took a joy ride on national media waves for more than 12 hours in a stretch through his Lahore rally – many of his adversaries could just dream of. 

Still, crowds around him are dwindling in numbers which is a cause of concern for PTI brains, planners alike. Unlike year 2011, when a mammoth crowd had turned up in the same city to listen to him and mark rebirth of a popular PTI which bagged him 7.4 million votes in 2013 elections, majority of Lahorites preferred to stay at home this time around.

Many of them remained glued to television screens, like millions of viewers across the country, and didn’t find an urge to flock the roads. Not that most of them have changed minds and won’t vote for PTI in the event of next elections, many of his die-hard fans and followers don’t find appeal, a message of hope from leader’s container, stage. 

Still they think of him as a simple, honest man having gathered pragmatic and status quo politicians around as a matter of political tactic to win elections.  And naively hope that once in power, this bunch of all weather politicians will be sidelined by the ‘great leader’ employing God-given persona and tactics. As a matter of fact, even these days, Imran addresses crowds with more ferocity, sentiment, and employs best of rhetoric. But something is lacking as his message is becoming a bit monotonous, a rehashed usual script, replete with the same old style warnings and sloganeering. 

The bitterness in tone is also back and with more vengeance, as was witnessed during the 2014 sit-in days. On Saturday too, the only attraction remained his ultimatum suggesting a rude, may be ugly, end game to Panama Leaks saga through a march on Jaati Umra, Raiwind Lahore, residence of the ruling Sharifs. 

A siege may be on his mind, but he didn’t spell out as a matter of tactic and surprise. Taking into account the usual crowd at hand, it seems an uphill task, provided all the opposition parties don’t lend a full throttle support. 

At the moment, the only support of around 10 k, plus minus, enthusiastic, ready to use religiously motivated workers, is from TuQ. The PPP in Punjab is not in a position to be handy on this count, despite all the tall claims and unending rhetoric of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto. 

Senator Latif Khosa, party’s secretary general, acted like a fill in the blank, on Imran’s container in the Lahore rally. So did Manzoor Wattoo, PML-N man switched to Musharraf PML-Q, now PPP Punjab Chief – a worst nightmare for PPP jiyalas. PML-Q came up with 50-100 workers, the same number of flags, and a handful of second tier leaders. And can be expected to be this much handy in any future political adventure. 

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) stayed away from Imran and TuQ shows, except a token presence of one or two first line leaders in Lahore and Rawalpindi. JI Chief, many say, is not at all ready to join forces with TuQ in any political adventure. 

Till the end game days of the political agitation in September last or early October, PTI is all set to focus on knocking doors of every state institution – Supreme Court, Election Commission, NAB, FIA, Parliament – to get the desired results. 

And make an unending overt and covert appeal to the garrison also to intervene politically to the extent possible. IK’s Lahore rally message was also laden with an effort to create a wedge between Sharifs and garrison as he quoted spinned happenings of yesteryears. He took on FBR chief terming him a partner in crime with the rulers. 

Ridiculed FIA and NAB bosses for being allegedly subservient to rulers. And ridiculed Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) which is these days hearing pleas for his and Prime minister’s disqualification.  In doing so, IK made it abundantly clear that he didn’t mean to ‘pressurize’ the institutions. Now PTI pins hope on Opposition leader Khursheed Shah Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

While Imran played the corruption card in Lahore, his political cousin, Dr Tahirul Qadri (TuQ) and Sheikh Rashid crossed all boundaries of decency in politics, if any left in modern day. 

TuQ got so carried away and desperate, by design or otherwise. And tried to malign and slander the sitting premier in a speech not taken seriously, usually.  But there was a comic, funny side of his address too – a hall mark of TuQ’s political gatherings. 

He flashed some files to the crowd and media claiming he has got undisputed proofs that the ruling Sharifs were secretly building power plants inside their mills and factories to secretly raise around 16,000 MW of electricity through the expertise Indian technicians and engineers to end loadshedding within a few months time. As per TuQ’s claim this will surprisingly end the power outages. And what a relief it will bring to the rulers? IK won’t be a happy man on this count.

Playing well on fear and surprise factor, Dr Tahirul Qadri entered Rawalpindi Saturday evening amidst predictions he would march on to capital Islamabad. And an unlimited sit-in, sequel 3, would thus begin. But it was not to be. Partly because his political partner Sheikh Rashid Ahmed could not muster a sizeable crowd as he complained a literal siege of his Rawalpindi Lal Haveli since Saturday morning. It ended in the evening, but people lost interest in the meanwhile. 

Unlike PTI, which got second highest votes in elections 2013, Rashid is a one seat political player, and TuQ has got no stake in electoral politics at all. Surprisingly, unlike IK, TuQ was non committal, a bit vague, as he announced to stage a rally towards Raiwind Lahore in the coming days or weeks. His Qisas (retribution) campaign remains multi-faceted and mysterious at the same time. Until then, ruling PML-N have got time and space to set the things is order, and come up with a workable solution leading to fair and judicious investigation into Panama Papers investigation.