Once political rivals, Awan, Imran now close buddies

ISLAMABAD: Nobody would have believed that Babar Awan, a front line defender of Asif Ali Zardari, would change his loyalty after almost 21 years. Exactly 3,226 days (8 years 10 months) ago in a TV talk show, Mr Awan accused Imran Khan of occupying government land to build his mansion in Banigala, but, ironically, he will defend him from now onwards.

The recent two examples of Babar Awan, Fawad Hussain Chaudhry and many other PPP stalwarts who parted their ways from PPP and joining the ranks of PTI has proved more than ever to be what we have been told again and again but refused to learn: that in politics there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests. While in PPP, Mr Awan always played the role of a front line defender of Asif Ali Zardari and used to criticise not only Imran Khan and his policies but even those who join PTI. However, after almost nine years the role has been reversed for him as from now onwards he will be a front line defender of Imran Khan.

On August 24, 2008, PTI chief Imran Khan and Babar Awan appeared in a TV talk show (Capital Talk) and hurled wild allegations against each other. PTI chief Imran Khan, while talking in the talk show raised the issue of “Surrey Palace”; whereas, Babar Awan raised the issue of “Banigala land”.   Babar Awan accused Imran Khan that he has occupied the land of Punjab government’s forest department to build eight and a half kilometre long road. Whereas, against these allegations, Imran Khan only prayed that “May Allah grant him the courage to speak truth”.

In the same talk show, Imran Khan accused Babar Awan, “Just because of his vested interest and to protect his ministry, Mr Awan and his government are destroying this country.

He is following a person who has looted this country. They (Mr Awan and his party PPP) had officially disowned Surrey Palace in Parliament but now why are they claiming its money now”.

Against these allegations, Babar Awan asked Imran Khan to answer the question of building a mansion on government land.

Not only this, Mr Awan used to be a strong critic of those who at that time joined PTI after parting their ways from the PPP. While referring some of his colleague who left the PPP to join the PTI, in a public gathering in Karachi Babar Awan said, “This would be a greatest tribute to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto that we should stand with her party and support Bhuttoism, Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other PPP leaders. There is only one true political party and that is PPP, the rest is status quo only. One of my colleagues has recently joined PTI. I know why he has joined PTI. He has joined PTI to create a pro-PML-N faction in PTI”.

Not only Mr. Awan, but many other PPP stalwarts have recently bid adieu to their former party including Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Imtiaz Safdar Warraich, Noor Alam Khan, Fawad Hussain Chaudhry  and Nawabzada Ghazanfar Gul. All of them were strong critics of Imran Khan while they were in the government from 2008 to 2013.

Even Imran Khan leveled allegations of corruption against some of these politicians. Ironically, they are not only accepted by Imran Khan and his party but will contest elections on PTI ticket in the next general elections.