After the famous Lahore jalsa Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf’s chair Imran Khan has embarked himself into a long journey of persuading people to vote for him. The jalsa took place at the time when country was making a free fall in political and economic venue. The mills were closing due to electricity shortage. CNG stations were closing down due to gas shortage. Law and order situation was worsening. In the flood of panic and poverty people were looking for a messiah. Suddenly, at Minar e Pakistan they saw a man with a clean background. They saw a man with strong determination. They saw a man who before had remained source of their inspiration in sports. They saw a man who brought first of its kind cancer hospital in country. And that good man was lurking with only one seat in national assembly since last sixteen years. This was the time when people realized: why not to vote for him?
This was an ‘opportunity to grab’ time for Imran Khan. He at once started negotiations with the people who were not satisfied with their current parties e.g. Javaid Hashmi. He also started campaigning in other cities. He also started re-structuring of this political party. He arranged a massive party elections; first time ever within party elections in Pakistan’s history.
I am looking very closely to Imran Khan’s moves. There is no doubt that he has worked very hard but I feel that there is one opportunity which Imran is constantly missing.
The largest part of his followers consists of people between seventeen years to thirty years of age. Although, the people of this age group are inexperienced and emotional, they are easily programmable too. They can quickly adapt according to requirements. They love to follow the things they are inspired from. They possess the determination to cross all hardships through their determination and emotions. Imran Khan had a great opportunity to program these youngsters into someone tolerable, more intellectual, and more accessible. Imran Khan had a great opportunity to inspire them into becoming forgiving and forbearing persons. He could have worked on them to turn them into analytical thinkers; the ones who can analyze all the sides of a pyramid; the ones who do not indulge themselves into silly, time wasting quarrel; the ones who do not waste their time in abusing, fighting and making personal attacks.. Instead, Imran Khan took totally opposite course. He initiated a rude, harsh and unforgiving verbal attack on other parties and their leadership. His body language and style displayed such deeply entrenched venomous outbreak of hatred towards status quo leaders that he started to brush every one against him with same paint. His young and ardent followers followed him well in this regard. They started to use extreme hatred language towards every person against their party.
This situation continued to worsen every day. Today it has become almost impossible to talk with his supporters regarding any damaging tendency in the party or Imran Khan himself. Exactly like that, it has become impossible to make them realize that there are many worthy possessions present in other parties too.
I personally believe that these trends are very dangerous for political climate of Pakistan. People of our country already have developed a very extremist mindset. This mindset has widened political, cultural and religious gaps with in our society. This mindset needs to be calmed down. Imran Khan as a leader of youth should check this trend himself.
I would mention few humble recommendations to Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf.
1) Party leadership should refrain itself from using unethical words about other Pakistani leaders.
2) Steps should be taken in order to strengthen the characters of party personals.
3) In constitution of party a complete clause should be chalked out about the public manners and behaviors of party members.
4) A small ethical course should be chalked out and taught to all party members mandatorily. The classes of this course can be conducted in all regional, union and district body headquarters. This course can made through the amalgamation of Islamic values and modern ethics.
I believe that a true revolution comes out of the behavior and characters of the revolutionists. Character speaks louder than words. That is why our prophet (PBUH) said, “Best among you are those who are best in their characters”. Abusing, fighting, use of insane rhetoric, negative bashing and all other unethical public exercises should be kept in check. This is the only way to achieve a complete moral victory over opponents.
—- Syed Muhammad Shoaib
Syed Muhammad Shoaib 