In cricketing terms, Imran Khan has gotten himself out on what you call “A Hit Wicket”. Perhaps, it was self over confidence or wrong assessment of the situation. Both ways as a leader who claimed to be the future of Muslim Ummah; he should have seen it coming. But perhaps I think as they say in English; he bit off more than he can chew. I wonder what makes Imran Khan thinks that he is the only one in the game and others are just spectators. How can he forget that in politics his opponents would conspire, and he would always have traitors in his ranks and file as anyway more than 80% of his parliamentarians were parachuters landed in his party whereas he had all the chance in the world to have his ideological workers go up the rank. We saw recently, how only those showed some resilience as all the parachuters bailed out and may continue doing so as the grip becomes stronger around him. His recent, message from his home complaining that he has been left alone was ironic as well as symbolic at the same time. Such things do happen when you take hard positions with no recourse. Sun Tzu in his Art of War strongly suggested to give way to your cornered enemy as they would pounce with inaccessible last blow on you only. I am sure many would have read Art of War as a manual during their trainings at many academies or universities especially those involved and are ahead in this war to bring Pakistan to normalcy. 

The facts remain that the inflation has crossed over 50% over the last year and more and more people are being pushed below the abject poverty level. The only priority should be to bail them out as I fear the nation would not be ready for a revolution of those dying of hunger. We must remember the fate of the privileged during the French Revolution. Nothing would matter at that time which party you would belong to. People would take their own course for justice at that time. Hence, reversing the dire situation is critical at this stage. Perhaps, the reason why the Chief Of the Army Staff (Hafiz) Gen Asim Muneer visited China the all-weather friend of Pakistan to seek that bail out and the news is looking positive for Pakistan where we may end of getting the amount of financial support needed to keep the nation afloat instead of hanging by the thread every few months hoping that IMF would bail us out which anyways in on a drip feed where we are given enough to wait for the next tranche. Some say the bailout needed is much over $ 50 Bn to get us back on track and some financial stability backed by a stable political scenario. IMF is not able to come up with any amounts closer to this. Whilst, we have been wooing United States of American via our Foreign Minister Bilawal Zardari much before he became the Minister. Nothing concrete apart from more demands has come from the United States whose economy is quiet frail itself and whatever slush funds they may have been getting utilized in Ukraine. Expecting USA to come out with such a bail out would look next to impossible and may come up with a very high cost as high as surrender of our nuclear weapons. So, the Army Chief played the card right and visited China first instead of USA or the West where his predecessor could not achieve much though he launched Bilawal much before toppling of Imran’s government in 2022. 

Coming back to the fact that why do I say that Imran got out by “Hit Wicket” is simple. Last year when he got ousted by a very valid political process which he himself could not challenge in any courts like he did in the case of Punjab Government and got it back. He was lucky that he got out of the thick as the financial crises which came later inclusive of the floods in Pakistan backed by Global inflation especially in case of Oil Prices. His government would have burned up for good. But fate let that pressure fall on opposition who took the chance. They took initiative instead of seeking shelter under a fresh election. Imran got the momentum behind him by this chance of luck which got demonstrated in the nationwide support as well as comfortable victories in the by-elections. Seeing this he started training his guns on the same people who got him into power in the first place antagonizing them and blaming them. 

Confusing as it seems that initially he blamed the United States where today his party supporters are spending big dollars to get lobbyists to put pressure on current Pakistan establishment and are trying to pursue cases as old as 1971 to accuse and demerit our Armed forces. Today Imran seeks help from the same United States.

Then one day he started blaming Establishment that they caused the confusion. Not to forget that he already antagonized China on the CPEC thanks to his most favorite Murad Saeed losing their confidence and we saw that all good work on which stopped causing Pakistan heavily fiscally. 

Then he first stated that he is neutral on the issue of the next Army Chief but had his heart on one specific name but than once the new chief got appointed who distanced himself from the chaos as he focused on getting control of the military issues. Imran Khan tried to portray him as the enemy of the state though he was our Army Chief and gave much fodder through his social media team aided by some disgruntled retired officers who started doing propaganda against our Armed forces sitting in UK and the USA. The only one he appeased was our hostile agencies and nations towards Pakistan. 

My assessment is that the visit of Gen Asim to China instead of US or UK to seek support could be the reason for him carrying on the agenda against the new paradigm of the Army which may be trying to become independent altogether of US dependency where Gen Asim became target of his ire his campaign. Perhaps, after getting no attention of China and even that of Russia (Chinese ally) he had no choice but to take a U Turn on demand from his supporters sitting in USA who didn’t want to be seen as enemy of the country they reside and invested heavily in. I am sure some nations would not be happy if Pakistan formally decides to go back to the Chinese bloc as developing having learned its lessons from some western allies or I may say good weather friends. 

Was this desperation which got Imran out? That he pushed his card too much against the Army Chief to demonstrate to his targeted new backers that he can get the nation back on their bloc and overestimated the support he may get as he got his supporters unleashed against military installations in Pakistan and Army’s leadership. He played his card wrongly advised without realizing that the Gen Asim would not be a walk over. 

Frankly, from the humble background Gen Asim is from where he doesn’t come from any major Punjabi clan, in fact belongs to a migrating family with no one in the Army in the past or current. Initially, started in the Airforce landing in the Officer Training School (OTS) instead of Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) and starting his career from there. Then holding coveted positions like those of Core as well as DGMI and DG ISI (DGI) and finally raising to the COAS is no small achievement by any means. I am sure holding such positions without any backing must have come only based on hard work, talent and will and of course brains. This is classic! Now what I think Imran tried to do via his agents like those sitting in UK play the OTS vs PMA card (it’s like telling an IBA Karachi graduate to report to a CBM graduate with no offence to anyone) which clearly didn’t work as Pakistan Army is a disciplined organization. Then his party accused him of corruption which is hard to belief if there was any blemish Gen Asim would have not been able to hold such coveted positions in the Army raising to this position in the first place. Had any negative reports would have been there; these would have been out in the public as Imran’s propaganda team claim support from a lot of “Khamosh Mujahids” (Silent Warriors) not to forget the last DGISI to support such claims. Means Gen Asim is honest against all claims. 

Now, I think Imran clearly underestimated the COAS and played his card thinking that Army discipline would crumble to support his rhetoric. I have never met Gen Asim till now but what I have researched that he is a remarkable man of thought and pose and would know how to defend his position and the nation. Coming back to the Chinese visit let’s not forget the defense needs Pakistan may have seeing the Rafael’s inductions in Indian fleet, plus the nuclear submarines as well as Aircraft Careers near our ports; the acquisition of S400 and maybe more for defense purposes to make our missiles difficult to attack. China seems to be an automatic partner which can serve many angles at this time. No wonder the US lobby is mobilizing both in Pakistan and their station seeing the change. But I think this is off late now. 

Imran clearly knows that once this bail out comes. The successive government would be financially stable and since the Chinese don’t trust him as well as those who have been frequenting USA for the last few years would ensure that the next government would become stable for at least another 10 years which means at his current age his chance of becoming Prime Minister is practically gone. He is doing his best to ensure that this doesn’t happen. But the way IMF has been given a message by the Sharif government has the writing on the wall. As per my information. Chinese government wants political stability at any costs with elections preferably by December which should follow a bigger delegation landing to discuss next steps on CPEC. This is clear indication that the mess must be cleared now. 

Having spoken to many PTI supporters as I am lucky that being a middle-class unsuccessful graduate as per them, they still belief that it was a conspiracy of what happened on May 9^th; without realizing that their party leader was playing the game as mentioned above which not only targeted the institutions as well as attempted to stall the future CPEC initiative. My assessment is that he was not alone in this, but another political party could have been part of this silently but let’s not name them yet till the next blog. They must realize that the party leadership is not naïve that they have apologized once shown the facts and proof of this conspiracy which would have dislodged Pakistan financially, maligned our Armed forces lest made our vulnerable for our enemies to attack us. They must realize this and save their future whilst they can and contribute to Pakistan in any good means they can without chastising the same Pakistan Army which brought them in the power in the first place under a different regime. 

Simply, Imran thought that he had luck and some elements on his side not to mention Koh Kaf factor and went out to hit a “Six”; the bowler knew this and kept it straight. The captain missed the line thinking that there would be swing went back in the crease so much that he hit the wicket and “OUT” before the game could be called. Perhaps he thought that he was the only player on the crease. 

What could be future of PTI? Was having a dinner with a group of people where everyone was PTI supporters apart from myself. Asked them would they support PTI if Imran is minussed due to any reason (like disqualified by a military court etc etc) 90% said they would support PTI without Imran in it; the nation must go one. One thing I do agree that the nation must not to be left at the mercy of Zardari’s or Bhutto’s etc etc. Balance must be there. I am sure those sitting in echelons of power must appreciate that the middle class has finally stepped up to do politics in Pakistan taking away the beacon from the feudal and that this flame must not die at any cost.

Well, that’s all folks. I am sure if you are a PTI or Imran supporter would accuse me of writing this blog in lieu of money. But let me tell you one thing. For me it’s clear a stronger Pakistan means that 230 million will survive not everyone can go abroad. A Strong Army ensures that strong Pakistan. Before, you led astray would request keep Pakistan First in your thoughts and don’t declare our Army as your enemy as they are the reasons whilst this nation exists with all its follies and its enemies. 

Pakistan Army Zindabad! Pakistan Zindabad!