It’s taken a good long year, but Mr Imran Khan has finally figured it all out. As 11th May approaches, he is reminded of what transpired on the same date last year. Visibly agitated, he is more vocal than ever before about the negative role of those he once considered ‘good people’. As part of setting the stage for countrywide protests on 11th May against rigging in the general election, he has chosen to identify all the villains. The list includes almost everyone: the judiciary, the media, the military, the caretaker setup and the PML-N. In this great scheme against the PTI, the judiciary was represented by former chief justice of the Supreme Court (SC) Iftikhar Chaudhry and his loyal returning officers, the media by Jang group, the caretaker setup by journalist and PCB Chief Najam Sethi and the military by a certain Brigadier from Military Intelligence.
During his most recent press conference, the PTI Chairman announced his party’s boycott of Geo TV and Jang group altogether. It is interesting to note that this decision has come a year after Mr Nawaz Sharif’s victory speech was “prematurely” aired by Geo TV along with other channels. Is it possible that Mr Khan has chosen this specific moment to take on the channel primarily because it is already engaged in a tussle with the military? What is it that he knows now about Geo that he didn’t three or six months ago? Mr Khan surely knows that wherever the electronic media has a presence, announcement of results based on trends that emerge after initial counting is a norm. Nowhere does the media stay mute until 100% counting of votes is complete. Mr Nawaz Sharif knew that the PML-N had won the elections in the country the same way Mr Asad Umar knew that the PTI had won in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa around the same time; after 11 pm on the fateful day. Regardless, Mr Khan has no right to ask for an apology from anyone simply because he has ‘suspicions’. He should present credible evidence, instead of flawed theories before the public. Anyone can point fingers and hurl accusations.
Mr Khan’s party is leading the provincial government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, on the basis of the mandate it received from the same election he considers fraudulent. If the PML-N doesn’t have the right to rule, the PTI doesn’t either. Having said that, it is important that Mr Khan’s concerns are addressed as they involve issues related to free and fair elections and democracy in the country. However, it would be unfortunate to see Mr Khan do more harm than good for the ideals he claims to be struggling for.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Pakistan:--Imran. A Year Later
It’s taken a good long year, but Mr Imran Khan has finally figured it all out. As 11th May approaches, he is reminded of what transpired on the same date last year. Visibly agitated, he is more vocal than ever before about the negative role of those he once considered ‘good people’. As part of setting the stage for countrywide protests on 11th May against rigging in the general election, he has chosen to identify all the villains. The list includes almost everyone: the judiciary, the media, the military, the caretaker setup and the PML-N. In this great scheme against the PTI, the judiciary was represented by former chief justice of the Supreme Court (SC) Iftikhar Chaudhry and his loyal returning officers, the media by Jang group, the caretaker setup by journalist and PCB Chief Najam Sethi and the military by a certain Brigadier from Military Intelligence.
During his most recent press conference, the PTI Chairman announced his party’s boycott of Geo TV and Jang group altogether. It is interesting to note that this decision has come a year after Mr Nawaz Sharif’s victory speech was “prematurely” aired by Geo TV along with other channels. Is it possible that Mr Khan has chosen this specific moment to take on the channel primarily because it is already engaged in a tussle with the military? What is it that he knows now about Geo that he didn’t three or six months ago? Mr Khan surely knows that wherever the electronic media has a presence, announcement of results based on trends that emerge after initial counting is a norm. Nowhere does the media stay mute until 100% counting of votes is complete. Mr Nawaz Sharif knew that the PML-N had won the elections in the country the same way Mr Asad Umar knew that the PTI had won in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa around the same time; after 11 pm on the fateful day. Regardless, Mr Khan has no right to ask for an apology from anyone simply because he has ‘suspicions’. He should present credible evidence, instead of flawed theories before the public. Anyone can point fingers and hurl accusations.
Mr Khan’s party is leading the provincial government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, on the basis of the mandate it received from the same election he considers fraudulent. If the PML-N doesn’t have the right to rule, the PTI doesn’t either. Having said that, it is important that Mr Khan’s concerns are addressed as they involve issues related to free and fair elections and democracy in the country. However, it would be unfortunate to see Mr Khan do more harm than good for the ideals he claims to be struggling for.
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