- Imran Khan dominates national politics.
- Suppression tactics failed to break popular charm.
- Ruling elite paralyzed by Khan phobia.
In an article published in Roznama Dunya, senior journalist Ayaz Amir explores the pervasive political dominance of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, noting that the entire national conversation revolves around him, a situation acknowledged even by fellow columnists like Khurshid Nadeem. Amir argues that the ruling establishment’s inability to govern effectively or display any measurable competence over the last three and a half years has failed to break what they dismiss as a mere ‘cult’ surrounding Khan. Instead of diminishing, the author asserts, the ‘Talism-e-Imran’ (Khan’s charm/spell) has only grown stronger.
Ayaz Amir suggests that if the powerful circles had delivered substantive relief to the masses, particularly addressing the rising cost of living that has made life difficult for the poor, the public would naturally turn away from the opposition leader. However, the consistent policy failures and poor governance have instead inadvertently bolstered the perceived ‘cult’ status of the incarcerated former premier.
The author critiques the self-deception prevalent among the ruling circles regarding the former prime minister’s enduring popularity. He cites reports regarding the 2024 general elections, claiming that despite extensive alleged manipulation and coercion, the party of the ‘condemned leader’ reportedly won 10 out of 14 National Assembly seats in Lahore. Amir emphasizes the futility of suppressing leaders like Yasmin Rashid, noting that they won definitively in the political heartland.
A core observation made by the columnist is the profound frustration within the power corridors regarding Imran Khan’s resilience in prison. Amir highlights the anguish stemming not from his presence, but from the fact that he has not ‘broken down’ or resorted to pleas and compromises, contrasting this silence with previous episodes of alleged distress. He suggests that this inability to break the former premier, who was a global celebrity through cricket long before most of today’s powerful figures were relevant, is the source of the ruling elite’s unbearable pain.
Ayaz Amir cautions that excessive coercion has its limits, citing the observation that continuous hardship eventually makes difficulties feel commonplace. He questions the purpose of constitutional amendments and judiciary actions, asking whether they have garnered any respect. Amir specifically addresses Federal Law Minister, implying that his focus on constant legislative amendments fails to achieve the desired political outcome: breaking Khan’s appeal. The column concludes by noting that while one side attributes Khan’s popularity to a ‘cult,’ the other side, encompassing the country’s top leadership, is gripped by an undeniable ‘phobia,’ making them incapable of dealing with severe crises like the deteriorating security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, or the freezing state of the national economy. The obsession with a single prisoner, Amir contends, has resulted in a debilitating political paralysis.