Disclaimer: Generally, disclaimers are at the end of any blogs or articles but since there is a wind of change so let me start with one today. For the record, please note that I am not an Imran Khan supporter. In fact, I have been one of his biggest critics till date. I strongly belief that whilst he may have many qualities but till date his weaknesses outweigh them. But there is something which has forced me to acknowledge him today on one point only as someone who has desire to see a democratic Pakistan.

 

I have grown with this spirit in me since I attained youth that the nation should change if it has survived and strive. All my life I have seen that the feudal and the selected families who have been ruling Pakistan has destroyed the nation and it must change. Whilst, we have seen the change coming in our neighbor; it’s been almost 30 years of my life hoping as I stepped into the college joining a political organization to contribute from my side to influence change. But the change hasn’t come till today. As I write this; we are stuck to the same two families Sharifs and Bhutto’s, and the worst part is that now there is a planned changed of guard where the next generation of these families are going to take over the baton. Whilst I can’t blame them for their desire to rule Pakistan as their birth right but at the same time what has been missing has been alternate leadership. People coming from middle class, educated class, lawyers, doctors, business graduates, economists, accountants, engineers and teachers who could take the command of the nation and develop it in a progressive country. As I become old as I joined a student union in 1993, I deemed fit standing against the feudal system and representing the thought of 98% Pakistan and being in 2024 now; there has been no change unfortunately.

 

With Imran coming into politics at least he mobilized the above class and encouraged them to participate in the political process not to forget the youngsters of which every day 50,000 come into the system. He mobilized all these segments. I still remember just 21 years ago as I was the only one in my business school class who participated into politics as I continued from my college and then to my engineering university. I was seen as an Outcast. It was a sin to be associated to a political party or with a political thought. It was seen as a sin. On my last day of business school as my batch mates published the annual magazine; they mentioned my political activism as a negative comment. I still recall, how this was seen as a negative as I was getting interviewed on the campus by one of the leading multinational bank’s HR mentioning how this was a negative on which I replied this should be instead as a strength and thought leadership as I aspire not only to influence any organization, I work with but my community as well.

 

But today, I feel so elated to see so many executives my age who stepped into politics just 10 years ago as Imran inspired them to step into it and especially across the nation would be only one reason, I would give full marks to him as he has done what no one could do before.

 

With the new elections as I meet many of them (again for the record I didn’t vote for Imran’s candidates of PTI who stood as independent after being forced into it) they seem disappointed in the system. I know for sure and agree that Imran’s PTI has made many mistakes and stepped on many toes in his timidness but what must not be ignored that the segment of population mobilized are the kind of people who would get rid of this nation from traditional politicians and replace them with progressive and educated leadership. But with the current frustration I am afraid that such would leave politics and bereft our nation of an ideal opportunity to activate new breed of politicians the exact type of our nation needs. The nation’s establishment must keep this in consideration and accommodate ways to keep such in the political system instead of frustrating them out of it. The existing lot of politicians joining hands against Imran’s PTI in my opinion out of their hypocrisy is not for any other reason but to stop from this progressive lot stepping into politics as they are sure once such step in the nation would elect them and allow them to progress Pakistan. Simply meaning that the doors of power would be closed on them for good.

 

Anyone who is patriot to this country would ensure that such stays in the political system instead of deserting and leaving Pakistan. These same if have stake in the system would not only be able to change the nation from within but also international investments to come into Pakistan using their influence globally.

 

A political solution must be arrived at instead of imposing the same corrupt lot or at least most of them under the guise of necessity. This must change in the interest of Pakistan. I wonder what this lot can achieve in next 20 years what they can’t in the last 30 years plus apart from their personal prosperity as the nation has declined further into poverty as their personal coffers grow.

 

As for my advice to Imran Khan would be hand over the party to such a progressive lot and become their spiritual guide and develop these leaders. He has already given at the basic level but it’s time that he gives the country national leaders like him as he gets embroiled in his battles with the system for faults of his own carelessness and those around him. Hope, this settles amicably. Pakistan Zindabad!