The rumours have been circulating for days, and now Pakistan’s leading daily Dawn has confirmed that these are not rumours, but actual news with substantiated evidence. The beleaguered PM, facing a challenge from a new Imran Khan (backed by strong political allies from the opposition for the first time), and having distanced himself from the Military because of his pro-India leanings as well as his stubborn refusal to launch a genuine anti-corruption drive, is seriously contemplating to simulate the Turkish President Erdogan who had taken on the powerful Turkish Military and broken the hold of the Generals on power in Ankara.
Offcourse, the saner elements in the PML (N) are advising him to reduce the level of his hawkish tone against the Opposition, and to re-engage the Army Chief to avoid the dreaded point of no return; but the newly- charged PM is listening more to the advisers who are urging him to show not some, but a great deal of muscle.
In the final moments sanity may prevail, but the PM knows he simply cannot afford a genuine probe into his financial affairs in the context of the Panama Leaks. What will he do?
Will he remember that he is no Erdogan whose exceptional intelligence and charisma served him with extra-ordinary results when he formed his Justice and Development party at the dawn of this century. He rose from ground zero, and his goal was not money-making. It was his exceptional popularity as a genuine leader of Islamic Awakening movement among the Turkish masses that provided the fuel which powered his crackdown on the anti-Islam Turkish military. Pakistan’s military has quite the opposite character. And the people of Pakistan will stand behind General Raheel if a Modi-friendly government acts to interfere in the area forbidden to Pakistan’s money-making and India-friendly politicians.
