In his latest column, Ansar Abbasi writes that the new political maneuver by PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, amidst ongoing political tensions with the government, is a move that puts a great deal at stake. He describes the nomination of Sohail Afridi for Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a “major gamble,” positing that it will either spark a “revolution” or could result in Imran Khan losing his party’s government in the province.
He Wrote, “Imran Khan has once again taken a huge gamble in Pakistani politics, the effects of which will be profound not only for his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), but also for the country’s overall political system, federal structure, and civil-military relations.”
Abbasi Wrote, “Whether this gamble succeeds or fails, in either case, Pakistan’s politics will stand at a new crossroads. Either an “revolution” will unfold according to Imran Khan’s vision, or PTI will suffer a severe political blow, potentially even losing its government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
He further wrote, “The decision to remove Ali Amin Gandapur from the Chief Ministership and nominate Sohail Afridi, considered a protégé of Murad Saeed, is in fact a political move by Imran Khan that could escalate his conflict with the establishment to its peak. Gandapur, despite his fiery speeches and harsh statements, became unacceptable to Imran Khan when he failed to show the level of resistance against the establishment that Khan had expected. Now, Khan’s hopes are pinned on Sohail Afridi.”
According to Ansar Abbasi, “Afridi is a young man who, like his political mentor Murad Saeed, is considered ready to go to any lengths for his leader. This decision by Imran Khan could have two major potential outcomes. First, Khan could use a new political movement to shape the narrative of his release and public popularity into significant public pressure on Islamabad, or possibly even a confrontation. The second, and more dangerous, outcome is linked to the issue of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Imran Khan is not satisfied with the anti-terrorism strategy of the military and the federal government.
He believes that resorting to the use of force in the war against terrorism will exacerbate problems rather than solve them. He desires that neither military action be taken against terrorists nor should relations with Afghanistan be soured on the grounds that Afghan soil is being used against Pakistan. Imran Khan wanted Gandapur to, on one hand, compel the army to halt its operations in the province, and on the other, to pave the way for direct negotiations with Afghanistan through the provincial government.
When Gandapur could not make the progress in this direction that Imran Khan had hoped for, the decision in favour of Sohail Afridi was made. However, the question arises: at a time when border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan are rising and terrorism is re-emerging, will the change of Chief Minister in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Imran Khan’s thinking behind it not create a further crisis for the country? If Sohail Afridi truly follows Imran Khan’s policy, this decision could take the confrontation between Imran Khan and the military to a point of no return.
The first stage will likely involve constitutional and legal hurdles being placed in the way of Sohail Afridi becoming Chief Minister. It is possible that this matter will reach the courts. But if PTI overcomes these obstacles, it will be a clear declaration that Imran Khan is in a position for an open fight with the establishment. The question is not whether Imran Khan’s war is based on principle or politics; the question is whether its outcome will be in Pakistan’s interest. Will this “revolution” of Imran Khan’s, which was also dreamt of on May 9th, bring stability to the country or give rise to chaos, arson, and a clash of institutions?
Imran Khan is a popular leader, and his millions of supporters trust him blindly. But the test of leadership comes when decisions are made not just for oneself, but for the future of the country. Gambling in politics can sometimes yield temporary benefits, but in matters of state systems and national security, if this game goes too far, everyone suffers, be it Imran Khan or his opponents.
Imran Khan must consider that if this gamble backfires, will it only harm his politics, or will it also create a new crisis for this country, which can no longer afford any further political catastrophe”.