U-Turn?
I am one of the half-a-million overseas Pakistanis residing in U.S. who Imran Khan wants to woo to invest in Pakistan. I am probably in a majority who will oblige his call to help our motherland. This is because I, like many other overseas Pakistanis, are least interested in particular political parties or their leaders, but most interested in the well-being of the country they get elected to govern. And since Imran Khan’s victory, we finally feel that we have an honest and courageous leader whose foremost agenda is to help our country. We have been euphoric by the new government and their no-nonsense, bold policies.
But today, I am also likely to be among many Pakistanis – overseas or not – whose elation has been deflated to give way to sadness.
Prior to today, our hearts were filled with joy. After decades of corrupt politicians milking the country dry, we found our savior in the form of our Kaptaan, who had steadfastly struggled for 22 years and had boldly fought all forms of opposition to become new leader of our beloved Pakistan. Here was a leader who never bowed to adversity, who never gave-in to fears that would creep into the bravest of hearts.
We were heartened when he stepped in plain Shalwar-Qameez to meet the U.S. delegation, speaking confidently and with a smile on his face – a stark contrast to obsequious mannerisms of his predecessors. We applauded his pragmatic yet firm stance against Netherland’s latest cartoon competition debacle when it bore positive fruit without any major civil unrest.
We felt proud when Imran Khan reminded us in his GHQ speech the meteoric rise of our religion was due to our Prophet’s preaching and setup of an inclusive society where the weakest member had the same rights as the strongest, where the only thing that mattered was one’s ability and one’s God-fearing nature.
We were glad that the same way U.S. or other western countries valued only the talent of their immigrant minorities to make their countries a better place, here at last, was a bold government to do the same in Pakistan. The “Naya Pakistan” was not for a the majority nor the elite few, it was going to be inclusive of everyone.
And we finally saw an example of this when his government refused to back down to petty, short-sighted criticism of Dr. Atif Mian, a Princeton-graduate economist simply because of his faith. We were glad to hear reference to the Quaid’s appointment of Sir Zafar Ullah, also belonging to minority faith, to the critical post of Foreign Minister.
The minority of overseas Pakistani community whose religion has never stopped us to succeed in our adopted country of a different faith, uttered a sigh of relief. We were glad to beckon Imran Khan’s call to play our part to help the country of our birth the same way we had helped our adopted country by paying taxes and by creating jobs.
But then something happened. The rhetoric changed overnight. PTI went from being talent-first, all-inclusive party to one who succumbed to pressure from the usual miscreants. Our Kaptaan who had stood up to staunchest opposition in all forms in his life capitulated to petty pressure and caved-in like any other politician before him.
In his u-turn under pressure, his demeanor metamorphosized into the Musharraf of yester-years who, having previously repealed the blasphemy law during his tenure, squeamishly surrendered to the hordes of politically-motivated Mullahs when he couldn’t bear their anger.
We had expected a lot more from our Kaptaan.
I still support him because I know that he is still the best choice amongst the corrupt lot around him. I still support him because I know that he and his team will build a better Pakistan than the one left in tatters by the goons before him. And I know that he will stand tall to best represent Pakistan’s interest to all foreign nations.
But my support, together with others, will now have an air of melancholy that was absent before. It will bear a sadness that is biting in it unexpectedness.
Kabhi muskura kar, dabay paaoN aa kar, dukh mujhay chu lay! (Sadness takes many forms, it hides behind smiles, it creeps slowly and, when I am least expecting it, it touches my heart to make me sad)