News Analysis |
Accountability- would start with him, with his cabinet and then would flow down to everyone, promised Imran Khan in his first address post-General Elections 2018.
It is expected that the expected strong government of the PTI will be able to develop a more formidable accountability mechanism that will not only take others to the task but also cleanse it from undesirable elements.
The much-expected victory speech by the PTI chairman Imran Khan was welcomed by all quarters of the nation. Many analysts and observers welcomed the measured and mature statements with respect to his opponents. Many said that this was a completely different side of a man portrayed as vengeful and belligerent.
Read more: State Security tightened around next PM Khan
Imran Khan declared that there would be no political victimization of opponents despite their past transgressions against him. Yet he did follow up that the law would be the same for everyone. Accountability would start with him and his cabinet and flow down to everyone. This was his commitment to maintaining the drive for accountability across the board which was the basis of the formation of his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Before the elections, there were apprehensions that a joint PML(N)-PPP coalition could come to rule Pakistan and that would be fatal for the accountability drive being run by the Supreme Court and NAB. It was expected that this coalition would start with defanging NAB and then destroy the Supreme Court. The last step would have been to harm the armed forces as an institution. It was also expected that they clamp down on all their critics in the mainstream and social media.
Read more: PM in-waiting IK’s victory speech and the promises he made
Accountability is not only expected to be preserved but flourishes under the imminent PTI government. Imran Khan’s victory can be attributed to his success in bringing Nawaz Sharif down over his corruption. The PTI was also hailed for its accountability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Cases such as Ziaullah Khan Afridi who was Provincial Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for mines and mineral development from March 2014 to July 2015 are significant. In July 2015, he was arrested on the charge of corruption. The same month, his party membership was suspended by PTI and he was removed from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial cabinet.
However, PTI in KPK could not deliver more on accountability, perhaps due to its coalition government as well as due to the presence of certain elements within the party itself. It is expected that the expected strong government of the PTI will be able to develop a more formidable accountability mechanism that will not only take others to the task but also cleanse it from undesirable elements. Imran Khan has shown that he is more than willing to sacrifice corrupt party members which can be seen in his dismissal of 20 lawmakers for selling votes in Senate elections.