Imran Khan, our new Prime Minister

Here is a genuine man at last, wishing him all the success.

He truly looked like a Greek god, back in 1980 when I saw him for the first time, in the cricket field, next to Rawalpindi Club. He stood nearby, while fielding. I could see him clearly, as my friend Samia and I were sitting right next to the Pavilion. He looked even more good-looking in real life. In those days, he used to get his muscles pulled, due to his game. It was an international match with the West Indies. The match was won, due to many sixes scored by him the next day.

Then, let me tell you about his fame. It was in 1996, there was this Dutch friend of mine, Natascha Apledorne, she was in Sargodha Base because her first husband was in charge of the team from Lockheed, working for the F-16 aircraft, he was the US representative in Pakistan. (She was nineteen years old, and at least half my age, but that didn’t matter.) So, she knew, that I’m friends with Imran Khan’s youngest sister, and was after me to take her along to their home, in the hope of meeting him. I didn’t understand it. Why should she want to meet him? I was curious.  she said,

‘Name one Dutch person that you know.’

Of course I didn’t know a single one!

‘See?’ she said triumphantly. ‘Almost every girl in Holland knows ‘Imran Khan from Pakistan’ – that’s why!’

So, he has been the heartthrob of many, the world over. What made him different was his strength of character, his looks, as well as his cricket skills. What I liked about his cricket was that when he walked into the ground, there was bound to be some action. It was best when he and Miandad were together on the pitch while batting. It was something which I witnessed that day too, they knew how to entertain the crowd. Their game was aggressive and decisive.  Action packed, and thrilling.

Otherwise, I’m not much of a cricket fan.

Nor am I a politics fan. (- As you must have noticed by now.)

Fast forward, 1989. I’m in Karachi, and Imran’s tigers are everywhere. He visited my children’s PAF College, in Masroor,  and got them to raise funds for the cancer hospital. That was the time, when I met his youngest sister Uzma Ahad.

I met her because of her husband Flt Lt. Ahad was a very close friend of my husband. They were buddies, and so Uzma and I met often too. We were very close and often spent evenings together. It was after 1992 when I was regularly writing for Dawn, Uzma asked me to do a write up on the hospital her brother was building. I did want to write about it. Somehow, between my job as a computer teacher in PAF Masroor, Karachi, my newly born Waliya, and my postings, from Karachi to Peshawar, then to Sargodha, it somehow got left out.

Allah has ways to sort one out. The hospital got built. But Allah wanted to teach me what it feels to have a dear family member die of cancer. My husband passed away from it. Now, I feel so much pain for not going out of my way, to listen to this friend of mine. When the Peshawar hospital was getting made, I wanted to write, however, somehow, that too didn’t materialize. Now, I too, can feel that pain which this great family went through, which motivated them to build the hospitals for others. So at least others can get some help. They can have a place to turn to, during this painful process. Uzma, I’m very sorry, I couldn’t do it. I’m available now. And not just because your brother has become prime minister. It is because he feels the pain of those whose lives are touched by this deadly disease.   I know, Diana had come happily for Imran Khan’s fund raising activities for the hospital, as had many others.

I’m sure you were very proud of your brother today. I’m also sure, you must have wished your mother could have been alive to see her son’s glory today. I’m sure she is smiling from heaven looking at her son with pride.

Imran Khan spoke this evening, as our future prime minister. It was straight from the heart. No stiff papers, no rehearsed speeches, nothing like that. He spoke as I wouldn’t have dared to dream any prime minister would speak. It was really good.

I’ve had apprehensions about him lately. However, these didn’t stop me from voting for him yesterday. I’ve had big reservations about his ‘dharna’ policy, his tearing of electricity and gas bills, his speaking against the other parties. None of these I liked about him. – Certainly, not his marrying the peerni, nor his bowing in shrines. But that is his prerogative, and none of my business. – Nor his not re-marrying the mother of his two sons, Jamima, whom I truly admire. (You can read that sentence again, it does make sense!)

So, all that is his personal story, and that is his business.

What is my business is what he said today;

Today, all that he stands for, is just what we need. Particularly, the ‘Justice’ part of it. ‘Tehrik-e-Insaf’ itself means, ‘movement for justice’. Then, the fact that he talks about the lack of ‘systems’ in our country, it is so true. Each office is dependent on the personality in charge. No ‘systems’ to bank on. If the personality is good, it goes well, if not. Too bad!

So, if Imran Khan can deliver, it would be great.

Now, let us all pull up our socks, because, if there was corruption in this country, it wasn’t just because of a few persons.

It can’t be.

It has to have a lot of support for it to become so rampant.

So, let us all cooperate with our government, and specially with Imran Khan.

To start with, the registration of the car, and the payment of taxes these days. As you know, I’ve always said this is important. We have to do our bit.

What I like about Imran Khan is that he is modern, – like our Quaid and Iqbal were. Forward thinking and action oriented.

Well, so are we, aren’t we?

I’m so happy and feel so blessed. My dear Reader, let’s forget the past and no mudslinging, and let’s get together and build our collective dream Pakistan, and live happily ever after. 🙂