Waqas Shabbir |
Amid feverish media speculations, Imran Khan announced his marriage with a spiritual adviser – Bushra Wattoo in a simple- Nikkah ceremony held at the latter’s residence in Lahore at 9 pm yesterday.
Can a marriage sabotage the personal or collective progression of a political individual? Will it restrict Khan to achieve his dream of ‘New Pakistan’? After Lodhran few believe Khan’s dream to become Prime Minister is over. The same people are citing this marriage to be a nail in the coffin.
Many fingers were raised when Khan tied the knot with Reham Khan. The timing was the issue then and it remains the issue now again as Imran against all odds got married with a mother of five only a few months prior to the 2018 general elections.
If you want to bash him, go on and attack his political mistakes, PTI’s performance in KP, and his manifesto for the next elections, but hurling abuse at his personal life and hitting below the belt is not commendable at all.
When his opponents are vigorously trying to sell a lie under the slogan of ‘Mujheay kyon nikala’, huge crowds are discrediting the decision of the five judges. Amid such uncertainty and political trouble, Khan is busy in yet another marriage. What a loser, they say!
In Pakistan’s deeply conservative society, ironically, more liberals are bashing him on Twitter than conservatives. Getting married to a spiritual guide is declared unethical? But, getting married to your professor in college, to a nurse in a hospital, a political worker in politics, acquaintance at a workplace and a subordinate in the civil service is not unethical.
Read more: Imran Khan marries spiritual advisor in Lahore
Since Imran’s instrumental role in ousting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from office for alleged corruption and money laundering allegations, the disqualified Nawaz has waged war against Khan to somehow discredit him politically, and personally. Imran’s political rise, post-Panama verdict, has apparently suffered a setback after his collaboration with other opposition parties to support the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri’s demonstration against the government for its alleged involvement in the Model Town massacre.
This twisted society happily accepts unlawful mistresses and never raises fingers on extra-marital affairs of legislators but when Imran Khan gets married following the Sunnah of Prophet (PBUH), use of abusive language only shows the character of those talking.
Moreover, attempts are made to use women to damage his image. Ayesha Gulalai and his ex-wife Reham Khan are apparently working a well-thought out agenda to mock his colorful personal life. Many accuse Khan of being insensitive to the country’s voters that enthusiastically followed him to fulfill the mutual dream of a progressive Pakistan.
Ever since the Lodhran debacle, Khan is constantly bashed in the media for lacking the decisive instincts to make the winning shots. The accusation of a politically naive individual with no depth and strategic planning are nothing new for Khan. Political opponents are using all the tools in the book, even the government-friendly media houses, to discredit Khan’s contribution as a politician to this country of 208 million people.
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Analysts from the right and left are bashing him for failing to utilize Nawaz Sharif’s disgraceful ousting. Despite under the eye of the storm and such harsh criticism, Khan’s response is epic. He’s done something again which he can only do in election year. Do the unthinkable. Khan was bashed for his previous marriage failures and opposition leaders openly criticized him for his failed marriage and hurled false accusations at him.
Imran is looking for peace in his personal life given the agony of two divorces, as he publically admitted talking to a journalist on a private channel, that he only lived a few years of happy marriage.
Nikkah is Sunnah and there is absolutely nothing wrong in getting married again especially if one is single. Political and personal setbacks did not hold Khan from taking such a big decision at this crucial juncture. Imran Khan served the country by evolving the political consciousness of the youth and urban elite, which had detached itself from politics prior to the 2013 elections.
Should the public still take Khan seriously after this? The right question should be, will Imran’s wedding affect his political commitments? Is it an unnecessary hurdle that could undermine his performance? Considering that all political leaders across the world mostly are married, does it undermine their ability to perform in public interest?
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What about them who have indulged in polygamy? Former president Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif are the proud polygamists currently with four wives each. People have long been aware of their personal choices in life. If they successfully pursued their political careers and achieved success along the way and people did not question their commitment to politics, then why question a man, who only got married for the third time and kept only one wife at a time?
No reports regarding his infidelities emerged after Imran kick-started his political career, except a handful of cheap and characterless few individuals who hurled abuse at him to try and make political gains after he dislodged their master from the premiership.
Despite his commitments in pursuit of ‘New Pakistan’, his marriage would not be a disservice to this nation.Why is legally getting married as per the Islamic doctrines creating such a negative uproar and negative commentary?
Nelson Mandela also went on to marry three times. Did his marriages not collapse under the strain of politics? But, he found enduring happiness, when he married for the third time with the widow of Mozambican president Samora Machel.
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Mandela once told reporters, “Late in life, I am blooming like a flower because of the love and support she has given me.” Imran is looking for peace in his personal life given the agony of two divorces, as he publically admitted talking to a journalist on a private channel, that he only lived a few years of happy marriage.
Despite his commitments in pursuit of ‘New Pakistan’, his marriage would not be a disservice to this nation.Why is legally getting married as per the Islamic doctrines creating such a negative uproar and negative commentary? This twisted society happily accepts unlawful mistresses and never raises fingers on extra-marital affairs of legislators but when Imran Khan gets married following the Sunnah of Prophet (PBUH), use of abusive language only shows the character of those talking.
If you want to bash him, go on and attack his political mistakes, PTI’s performance in KP, and his manifesto for the next elections, but hurling abuse at his personal life and hitting below the belt is not commendable at all. The ones mocking Khan’s personal life should find something more concrete, reasonable and logical which may alleviate their personal character and depth of being.