Drama, intrigue, failed promises and self-righteous rhetoric must make Pakistani politics one of the longest running soap operas in the world. As is the case with most trash television however, any use of one’s cognitive abilities only serves to undermine the spectacle. Public opinion is a fickle thing dealing primarily in the extremes, and social media provides a fascinating ability to ‘listen in’ to the noise as the tectonic plates of global politics shift. Prior to the elections in 2013, PTI fever captured the masses, as the messiah figure of Imran Khan rose from the ashes of political obscurity to guide Pakistan. The image didn’t last long however, as a series of contradictions on important issues, immature declarations of abolishing corruption in 90 days, and a frightening agenda of establishing positive relations with the Taliban, just one of the many nails in his coffin. It has had a defeatist effect on the many optimistic revolution-touting youth of Pakistan, and the sensationally-titled ‘taliban khan’ seems to be another in a long line of disappointments.
However, we could try to step out of the comfort of the black and white, and into the grey. Call him overambitious, naive, inexperienced or downright corrupt, there is no denying that under his tutelage the KPK government has taken a series of excellent initiatives.
From adopting the ‘Right to Information’ Act, establishing an online FIR service and plans to build a Peshawar-based Shaukat Khanum hospital, to the ‘Rapid Bus System’ comprising of dedicated ambulance lanes scheduled for next year. The recent polio campaign has been excellently organised, and biometric systems are being introduced not just for local body elections, but also to supervise attendance of teachers and government officers. In addition to all this, ambitious education projects include the expansion of existing universities, as well plans to build a modern ‘Education City’ hosting foreign universities.
This is not a misguided propaganda to claim Imran Khan is perfect, or to reiterate the exhausted lesser-of-two-evils speech his supporters use. The man who promised us ‘Naya Pakistan,’ has a great many shortcomings, but credit must be given, where credit is due.