CHITRAL: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been in prison for two years, facing charges that remain highly controversial. His principal “offense” seems to be non-compliance with the wishes of the military establishment, which effectively runs the country. From this defiance arose a series of cases of various kinds, leading to his current situation.
Imran Khan practically burst onto the political scene with a bang when, at a massive and memorable rally in Lahore in 2011, he declared that if voted into power he would eliminate corruption within 90 days. The nation embraced this new hope for meaningful change. The educated middle class and white-collar public especially rallied behind him. Such was the emotional pull that people like this scribe crawled under barricade containers to attend his public meetings and contributed generously to support his party.
When he assumed office in 2018, expectations were sky-high. Sadly, those hopes were soon dashed. His tenure turned out to be “more of the same,” and even the few cosmetic reforms he introduced were unimpressive and superficial.
Had Imran Khan delivered on just one promise—instituting genuine government austerity, starting with himself—he would have earned lasting respect beyond politics and beyond the usual “zindabaad–murdabaad” slogans.
Muhammad Khan Junejo (may Allah be pleased with him), though installed by the military ruler Gen. Zia-ul-Haq, had the courage to place all generals and ministers in locally made cars and personally led by example. Symbolic as it was, it was a powerful and historic gesture. Though soon removed by the military junta, he remains firmly in the hearts of his admirers.
If Imran Khan is given another chance to govern, will he finally fulfill his early promise of genuine austerity—beyond auctioning the PM House’s buffaloes? Time will tell. .. CN report, 15 Nov 2025
One thought on “What least Imran Khan could have done as Prime Minister”
Sadly IK was a big disappoinment as PM , his biggest failing being prone to bad advice and a poor judge of people. His religiosity and wearing Faith on his sleeve while believing in superstition and supporting lewd mullahs like Samiulhaq belied his rhetoric about justice and progress.