Farah Adeed |
The Agenda
Imran Khan’s PTI was supposed to be a party of change. The party challenged the status quo and promised to reform our politics, society, and economy. Rule of law, cheap justice, human development, and economic prosperity were the top priorities of the party. As a matter of opinion, I never treated the PTI as a political party rather, for me, it has always been a movement. The movement had an agenda, an organizational capacity, leadership, and manpower.
The Vision
Fundamentally, Khan attracted educated people for his vision. “I want a western-style democracy in Pakistan,” Khan has said this multiple times. By western-style democracy, he does not mean the individualistic and liberal values/basis of the democracy being practiced in the west, he actually meant a democracy where institutions worked independently and people got justice without any hurdle. Rule of law, as said by Khan, is the defining element of western democracy.
An ‘Unprecedented’ Victory
In the general elections 2018 despite all conspiracies, political noise and media campaigns Imran Khan’s PTI won the battle. Soon after the elections, Mr. Khan became the Prime Minister of Pakistan and he was also able to form the government in Punjab and KPK. PM Khan’s PTI is also an ally of government in Baluchistan. This is a remarkable victory.
The CJP took the notice, bashed the IG and other officials and directed everyone including Ahsan Gujar and Maneka to present before the court. All appeared before the court and the CJP directed the IG police to investigate the matter without being biased.
But who won? Imran Khan or his vision? It happens rarely in developing democracies that people vote on the basis of party ideology and not on the personal influence of a politician. PM Khan’s vision won in Pakistan. The losers were not Zardari’s or Sharif’s rather it was old, irritating and parasitic political setup which was abandoned by the majority of Pakistanis.
Expectations
When Imran Khan became the PM of Pakistan, almost every Pakistani notwithstanding his or her party position hoped for a promised change. It was expected that Pakistan under PM Khan would never be like it had been under Sharifs and others. PM Khan’s maiden speech further raised hopes of people across the country.
The Test
A few days ago, media reported that the DPO Rizwan Gondal was transferred and made OSD for not obliging his political bosses. As the story got unfolding, we came to know that Mr. Rizwan Gondal was being asked to visit Mr. Khawar Maneka’s Dera and apologize to him since his officers had dared to stopped Mr. Khawar and his daughter (separately) at police check-posts. When the DPO declined, he was made OSD.
Read more: GVS exclusive interview with Imran Khan; his vision and his priorities.
Later on, it was also revealed that the DPO Gondal was also asked to visit the CM house where RPO and a civilian, Ahsan Gujar, husband of Ms. Farah, a friend of Ms. Bushara Bibi, Imran Khan’s wife, were also present. Gondal was asked to visit the Dera and apologize many times. The officer out-rightly rejected the ‘orders’. He was transferred at 1:00 am.
Social media reacted, mainstream media broke the story and anchors challenged Maneka family if they (anchors) were not right. PM Khan took the notice. But this was like a ‘Sharif Notice’- which means to give an impression as if the authorities are concerned about the matter but actually they are not. The CJP took the notice, bashed the IG and other officials and directed everyone including Ahsan Gujar and Maneka to present before the court. All appeared before the court and the CJP directed the IG police to investigate the matter without being biased.
Questions
Why CM Punjab invited Mr. Rizwan Gondar at 10:00 pm? Why was the DPO transferred after meeting with the CM Punjab? Who is Ahsan Gujar? How did he speak to a DPO before the CM? Was IG informed about the meeting? What is the significance of PM’s notice? Did he take it seriously? Who reported him? What were the findings?
Now the question is how the CJP will deal with the situation where the IG has been asked to conduct the investigation.
The IG police have already taken a position against the DPO how will he investigate the matter? The Punjab government is seemingly involved in the transfer how will it let police investigate the matter independently? Did the CJP not know this? Was the CJP now giving an escaping way to the IG and Punjab government? What will be the fate of Rizwan Gondal and many other officers like him across the country?
Disappointment
The CM Punjab was a poor choice and I have said this many times before. He is a feudal lord who has been trained to influence the police and bureaucracy for his personal interests. Mr. Buzdar has greatly disappointed us all. The agenda and vision of Mr. Khan are under the question now. The rule of law was the top priority but we are seeing something so distasteful.
Read more: SC grills IG Punjab over political coercion in DPO Pakpattan case
The most disappointing thing at this moment is the justification being given by the IG police. Police officials misbehaved with the daughter of Mr. Khawar Maneka and the DPO did not take the notice, the IG says. Therefore, I have transferred him, he added. Would you believe this man has been the IG of Punjab Police for last several months? Have you seen such quick and ‘inspiring’ actions by him ever before?
The hearing of the Suo motu in the court revealed the reality that the story being narrated by Manekas, IG Punjab and Punjab government is cooked one. Now the question is how the CJP will deal with the situation where the IG has been asked to conduct the investigation. But one thing has been established now that the Pakpattan saga is the murder of Imran Khan’s vision and Mr. Khan should look into it to identify the murderers of his vision.
Farah Adeed is a Senior Research Analyst in GVS. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Global Village Space’s Editorial Policy.