Imran Khan Has Neither Any Grief Nor Any Worry Over His Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Falling: Azaz Syed

ISLAMABAD (Daily Qudrat): Senior journalist Azaz Syed has said that, in the view of the PTI leadership and Imran Khan’s close circles, the end of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is not a major loss but is, in a way, tantamount to the removal of a burden for the party, because the PTI has once again succeeded in proving itself politically victimised.

Speaking on Geo News’ programme “Report Card,” senior journalist Azaz Syed said that PTI’s aggressive strategy had already proven after 9 May that it would not go in their favour.

He said that this time the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was toppled and Governor’s Rule was imposed, but it should also be remembered that Imran Khan has neither any grief nor any worry over his Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government falling; rather, for him and his party’s followers, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had become a headache, a burden.

According to Azaz Syed, the reason for this is that first there was Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI could not control him remotely, and when Sohail Afridi was brought in, he could not deliver performance like Ali Amin Gandapur. This was a headache for them, and they got rid of that headache.

He further said that we feel that perhaps the party has suffered a loss, but PTI’s own leadership and people very close to Imran Khan also say that the fall of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government holds no importance for Imran Khan Sahib and the party leadership; rather, they are happy that their party has once again proven to be a victim and has come out successful in the eyes of the people.

The senior journalist further said that they also said that the thinking we have regarding this decision is not necessarily the party’s thinking as well.

Speaking on the role of leadership in Pakistan’s parliamentary politics, Azaz Syed said that two models of this are found in Pakistan’s political history. One is that of the recent past, when after the 2002 election, the PML-N was under the cosh inside parliament and they appointed Chaudhry Nisar Khan as Leader of the Opposition.

He said that initially they also kept Javed Hashmi, who was later arrested, and afterwards Chaudhry Nisar was controlling everything and he was the founder of the “make-or-break” approach.

Azaz Syed said that now the situation is that PTI’s Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and PTI’s misfortune is that they have also kept PTI’s Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan inside.

Regarding Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s political comeback, he said that after Barrister Gohar Khan’s meeting with Shah Mahmood Qureshi, it seems that a path is being cleared for him, because Senate elections are coming up in March. A path is being cleared for him to come out, contest the Senate election, lead the party in the Senate and take important party decisions.

Commenting on Punjab Assembly Speaker Ahmed Khan’s statement on the system reset and division of provinces, Azaz Syed said that Ahmed Khan Sahib’s background is similar to Mohsin Naqvi’s. Those whom Mohsin Naqvi is considered close to today, Ahmed Khan was similarly considered close to someone yesterday.

He further said that but the problem is: are we following the Constitution? The Constitution clearly states that if there is any ambiguity on any matter, a referendum should be held, and the decision to divide each province should be made by its own people. This decision cannot be made sitting in Islamabad.