Articles of the year 2020
Published on November 23rd, 2020
Pakistan produced a long line of corrupt politicians.
The damage they did was far more than just stealing money.
They systematically subjugated the judiciary first so that the judges would not dare to try them.
The bureaucracy was brought to heel so illegal orders could be carried out, or ways were created for the officers to bend the rules so that the illegal orders would be given a makeover to pass scrutiny.
After a while the flimsy appearances were cast aside and Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari embarked on the most blatant forms of corruption.
This continued successfully and Zardari and Nawaz escaped punishment for years.
The American and British Governments were complicit, and passed an NRO bill that condoned all the misdeeds of Benazir/Nawaz crimes which allowed them the licence to loot again.
condoleezza rice in her book “ No higher Honour” stated proudly that she was indeed the author of the infamous NRO. And enforce the implementations there on so, no politicians were convicted but, were acquitted under this NRO.
Imran watched from the side lines. I remember having a discussion with him in London, and suggested he join Nawaz Sharif as he had a formidable political machine.
He rejected my suggestion saying they were too corrupt to which I replied that he could correct them from inside the party but Imran insisted on going it alone preferring 17 years in the wilderness and tribulations that went without the access to power.
However his faith in himself and his upright manner never ever faltered, and when he did come to power, his formidable charisma and his steadfast adherence to his values won him the respect of many.
A story is often repeated of Jemima getting fed up of being harassed by the Sharifs. When Princess Diana came to visit Jemima, in Pakistan, Benazir was Prime Minister, and sent Diana a message offering to host Diana at Governor’s House in Lahore.
Diana declined saying that she was Jemima’s guest, and it would be impolite.
To which Benazir had a fit, and ordered that the power in the region where Imran Khan lived be turned off. Imran Khan did not possess a generator, The princess sweltered in the heat of the Punjabi Summer that is legendary making it necessary for the British to retreat to the hill stations.
This was the vicious tantrum Benazir was capable of throwing. Her cruel ending was possibly the result of many such actions.
Imran Khan never bowed and never asked for any favours. He struggled and built his party piece by piece.
The Generals made an offer to assist him to power, which he declined, even though his opponents have repeatedly insinuated that he was indeed ushered in.
A typical political plot to try and smear the blameless progress of the Khan, when there were many shortcuts available which he did not take.
Yet another story without which the legend of Imran Khan would not be complete was when Jemima could not take the harassment at the hands of the Sharifs, which included warrants of arrest for Jemima on a charge of exporting tiles made in Sindh.
The Sharif government named them antiquities and charged her under the Antiquities Act. Fed up with this petty harassment she asked Imran Khan to come and settle with her in England. He demurred, and wanted to stay in Pakistan his home.
When the divorce was under discussion. Jemima’s lawyer sat with Imran Khan and asked him how much money he wanted as a settlement, as Jemima was worth well over a billion pounds and by law he was entitled to half.
Imran Khan declined and said he did not wish for a penny as it was Jemima’s money.
At the hearing the judge repeated the question. And Imran Khan again demurred. To which the judge turned to Jemima and said
“Why do you want to leave such a man”
and she replied
“I don’t want to leave him, but he refuses to leave Pakistan. It is his home.”
So it came about and the legend grows.