TO his critics, Imran Khan, the prime minister of Pakistan, is a confused man; to his admirers, he is a demigod, an icon. The swashbuckling cricket star, who once ruled the hearts of millions through his immense sporting talent, has now a fair share of detractors who criticize him for his ‘amateurish’ style of governance and his alleged hobnobbing with the powers that be.
Nevertheless, his all political failings apart, some of Mr Khan’s personality traits—such as his perseverance, persistence, and commitment to the cause—have helped him get to where he is today. From a nobody to a cricket legend, and then to the prime minister of Pakistan, his journey has been full of impediments and adversities, but he never gave up and continued to work relentlessly to achieve his dreams against all odds.
‘Playboy image’
While pursuing his education abroad, Imran Khan developed a reputation of a playboy who chased supermodels at London nightclubs and posed loafing on a bed in nothing but a pair of satin boxers. Mr Khan, who remained a bachelor for the first 42 years of his life, married thrice in the next 23 years. In his youth, he is said to have dated numerous women around the world, including Bollywood. Of his happy-go-lucky days, he once said: “The playboy image is overstated, but I’m not a saint either.”
Painting himself as a devout populist and anti-poverty reformer
Mr Khan had a remarkable career in international cricket spanning over two decades from the 1970s. In his heyday as a charismatic skipper of Pakistan cricket team, he was known as a person who had infused consistency in the 11-man team he headed for over a decade. His cricketing career was stellar in its own right but it was his momentous victory in the 1992 World Cup that lent him the charismatic aura. But the swashbuckling captain, who helped Pakistan clinch the 1992 World Cup, has long shed his celebrity playboy image and now projects himself as a virtuous, populist, anti-poverty crusader.
Ambiguous and Shifty Ideas
As a politician, Imran Khan’s views have been hazy as they have often moved from one end to the other, garnering him the reputation of Mr. U-turn. He supports liberalism but simultaneously appeals to Islamic values and anti-West sentiment, particularly when it comes to professed meddling by the West in Pakistan’s internal affairs. He canvassed vociferously against US drone strikes against radicals in Pakistan’s tribal areas as part of the “war on terror”. But it is his movement against corruption and dynastic politics in Pakistan, and a pledge to raise a new class of “clean” politicians that appeared to have struck a chord with his supporters. But now disenchantment prevails around his leadership, thanks largely to his politics of U-turns; he has failed to translate his lofty words into meaningful action.
Pakistan’s last best hope
With the leaders of Pakistan’s major political parties either in self-imposed exile or in jail for various corruption charges, Imran Khan, with the alleged unbridled support of the army, may emerge as the last best hope of the people of the country if he just gets his act together and improves his style of governance and politics. He should be mindful of the fact that if wants to rule of the people of Pakistan, he will have to go to any length to provide them relief from high inflation and rising unemployment, as well as other major issues facing the country at the moment.
Here’s wishing the prime minister for his future endeavors and a happy birthday!
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