With the passage of time the veneer of idealism is peeling off. What reveals itself underneath is the real Prime Minister Imran Khan as yet another practitioner of realpolitik.
Mr Khan enjoyed the suffering that the opposition leaders were made to undergo in the name of accountability. Fully supported as he was by those who maintain files on the shenanigans of politicians belonging to all parties, Mr Khan had access to damaging information about the PTI’s ministers who had freely indulged in corruption and misused authority. Some of those in the PTI who were still under the spell of Mr Khan’s slogans must have provided him evidence against the mafias inside the party. However, Mr Khan ensured that no action was taken against those who remained loyal to the party. The charge of corruption was meant only to defame and penalize the opposition rather than punish the bad eggs among the PTI loyalists
Mr Khan has called the selling and buying of votes in the Senate elections an act of treason. Mr Khan therefore wants an open ballot system, with every ballot paper carrying the signature of the voter. It is widely known that big money plays a crucial role in every Senate election. Why didn’t Imran Khan then demand an open ballot in the election for the Senate chairman in March 2018? Simply because he was assured by those who matter that the candidate being supported jointly by the PTI chief and former President Zardari would easily win under the prevalent system. Why didn’t Mr Khan demand an open ballot when the opposition brought a no-confidence motion against Mr Sanjrani in August 2019? Simply because Mr Khan’s man had no chance of winning in an open ballot.
Several PTI legislators and even ministers resent the unelected advisors and special assistants who play a key role in formulating unpopular policies that the elected lawmakers are required to defend. They know that the PM wants some of these to be elected Senators, paving the way for their appointment as ministers, and are unlikely to support them. The PM fears that the lot might lose if the secret ballot is not replaced by an open ballot. Their failure would show that the PM is losing moral authority in the PTI. Sheer political exigency rather than any principle has led PM Khan to demand an open ballot.
