After his humiliating defeat former cricket star69 years old, campaigned hard for political comeback, attracting a large number of young people crowds to mass rallies across the country. In anger version of passionate, anti-elitist rhetoric that led him to office in 2018, it doubled down on vague accusations of massive vote theft and a US-backed “plot” to overthrow him demanding new elections will take place.
July 10 Khan one-man vendetta suddenly gained momentum when his party scored a stunning political upset, winning 15 of 20 open legislative seats in province of Punjab. Punjab is the most important political and economic center of Pakistan. region and stronghold of in current resolution partyled by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The competition was held by a court decision to replace deputies who It was abandoned Khansky party.
Unexpected pro-Khan landslide shocks Sharif-led government coalition of nine parties, which was preoccupied with two nationwide emergencies: economy and extreme, punishing weather. first crisis marked record inflation has left millions of poor Pakistanis facing sky- high costs for food and fuel; in second It has left vast agricultural land dying of drought or flooding from heavy rains.
Friday Khan and his Pakistani movement for Justice seemed to be ready win a second victory – one what could make Sharif government to call for new elections. In this case, the court vote was held in provincial legislature to fill powerful post of Punjab chief minister temporally owned by Sharif son Hamza Shahbaz. Khan warned that official vote-buying schemes in progress, but at 10 pm, when everything is 369 votes were counted, Vice Speaker announced Khan’s candidate earned 186 – more than enough to win.
Then, events took sudden, strange turn. Previous letter from a minor political party leader was produced asking legislators not to count his bloc of ten votes unless they supported Shahbaz. This followed separate complaints of technical faults from other pro-government numbers. At the same time, the vice speaker subtracted 10 votes from Khan side and stated that Shahbaz won by 3. As the shouting and protests intensified, the exercise broke down. in turmoil and confusion.
Shortly after 11:00 pm, the sternfaced Khan appeared on TV. He expressed “shock” on the day of the events called on supporters of peaceful protests throughout the country, and said he would petition the Supreme Court intervene. He stated that the elections were bought way sheep and goats are sold”, and allocated out Asif Ali Zardari, rich former The president of Pakistan is now an ally with Sharif government as mastermind of story by naming it thief who buys democracy through black money”.
This was stated to journalists by the Minister of Internal Affairs Rana Sanaulla. in Lahore, the capital of the Punjab, decision save Hamza Shahbaz in office will “promote democracy and tolerance”. He accused Khan of trying to “create chaos and anarchy in country” and warned that if he provoked mass protests, “we will teach you to respect the law … we will not allow you destabilize the country. We will stop you.”
On Saturday, the Supreme Court said that review behavior of Friday vote, which could restore Khan Pervez Elahi’s candidate as winner. But whatever the outcome, many Pakistani observers view noisy political slush like a miserable national embarrassment and more black eye for Pakistan’s Weak Democracy Is a Political Offense match which took precedence over more horrible problems facing impoverished nation of 220 million.
“Our economy is in very bad shape, and this political uncertainty will add more to our troubles, ”Ayaz Amir, veteran newspaper columnist and former liberal legislator, Dunya TV told news. “Politicians are focused on power politics and ignoring real problems,” especially soaring inflation, he said. According to him, the leaders of Pakistan should show “best feeling” instead of “negation people their mandate. Otherwise, I see only chaos and destruction ahead.”
In a sense, Khan benefited from being outside critic while his successors must fight with the economic disaster they inherited from him. Bye in powerKhan jeopardized a decisive debt rescue deal with International Monetary Fund as it slashed fuel and food spending as it struggled to stay in power. Now Sharif government was forced to change this policy, making a tough and unpopular decisions to save salvation.
Khan has also was free campaign in poor agricultural areas hit by drought and heavy rains, sympathizers with desperate villagers and promising help them if he returns to power. Last week he visited flood- devastated area in southern Punjab, where video footage shows crowds of villagers trudge barefoot through ruined fields of muddy water rushing towards the puddle-covered highway where Han and his aides were waiting. in caravan.
“I was worried that the heavy rains would keep people far away, but they went for miles through mud and rain, with no umbrellas or shoes to answer him call”, – said Ghulam Sarwar, MP for Khansky party from Sahiwal, the sodden area that Khan visited that day. “We’re growing a lot of wheat and cotton, but we have faced deadly heat and floods,” he said, adding that government helped small farmers with loans for seeds and fertilizers. ” people here love him and they will vote for his again,” he said.
Khan has also cultivated huge urban following after his exile by holding rallies in cities to promote new elections, railway against Pakistan current leaders as corrupt and denouncing supposed foreign designs against Independence of Pakistan. Thursday, the day before second Elections in Punjab, he suddenly called on his fans gather in major cities, including Islamabad, and thousands of people rushed to comply.
In a TV appearance that evening broadcast on large outdoor screens via video link, Khan warned of new vote-schemes of purchase and called on supporters to protest against any fraud. He also repeated his vague accusations of an American plot to introduce “slavery” and “import the government into Pakistan, which US officials deny. But the mood of the protesters were optimistic and full of hope.
“He’s the only honest leader in this country is the only one one who takes care of us. All other politicians are thieves,” said Raja Wali, 30. driver who brought his wife and two children to the rally. Other in the crowd praised the khan for health improvement access for the poor and bring economic development his chronically impoverished nation.
“We all in dirt now but he wants to bring us out of it,” said 53-year-old Amir Qureshi, shoe store owner and volunteer organizer for Khansky party. “We are not want Pakistan to become like Sri Lanka where everything fell apart and exploded up. We want to keep growing we want new elections soon and we want he will come back”.
Shaik Hussain contributed to this report.
