Assessing Imran Khan's Campaign

ASSESSING IMRAN KHAN'S CAMPAIGN

NOTE: The views given below should be pondered with a serious and sincere concern by all readers instead of blind support for political leaders

- by S Roman Ahsan

The permanent disqualification of Nawaz Shareef is a boon for Pakistan. Just the fact that the former Prime Minister had appointed many of his close family members in important government positions around him could have been the reason enough for his elimination from his position. What is the next choice for Pakistanis? For many educated Pakistanis, the opposition leader Imran Khan who has been leading a campaign against the former Prime Minister since 2014 is the ideal future leader of Pakistan. Is he really ideal from the perspective of Islam? Do we really care about standing in front of our Lord on Judgement Day? If we do, then let's assess Mr. Khan's campaign from the lens of Islam. 

We used to like Imran Khan before but truthfully speaking there is nothing great in building a hospital out of non-permissible (haraam) sources of earning in Islam like concerts and others. Just because he is hailed by many educated Pakistanis does not make him number one in our eyes. Though he has taken some good stands for Pakistan but many of his efforts amount to little if considered from the true perspective of Islamic teachings. That includes his jalsaas till midnight on regular basis since 4 years with females participating also. All that is forbidden in Islam!

His latest blunder of accepting Amir Liaquat in his party is also highly revolting especially since "Imran Khan (Official)" page on Facebook has referred to a pest like Amir Liaquat as "Maaroof Mazhabi Scholar (Distinguished Religious Scholar)". Anyone who joins PTI becomes "Distinguished" as per the standards of the party but we know better. If a young Pakistani Muslim makes the mistake of calling Amir Liaquat as "Distinguished Religious Leader" then we can very well excuse him. But here is a political party whose Leader uses the names and quotations of Caliphs of Islam also (paying tribute is good but are you trying to fool Muslims?) in his addresses but then with giving such a title to  Amir Liaquat he brings down the whole merit of high morals and ethics in Islam. He portrays himself as a person who has very shallow values. It seems Amir Liaquat is included in the party because of his 'joker antics' to grab more audience for high rating but watch out if God forbid you end up with very low rating on Judgment Day. This world is just a delusion and real life starts after death!

We should know that apparent success or high number of followers is NOT the benchmark for nobility or greatness as far as the standards of Islam are concerned. Most followers of Mr. Khan are not really striving Muslims or have poor understanding of Islam thus liable to be sold on celebrity image and slogans of Nationalism. Yes, the campaign of Imran Khan at best heavily subscribes to 'Nationalism' which is not an acceptable entity in Islam. We should love our country only within the prescribed limits of Islam. It means whatever we are doing for our country should be according to the true Islamic spirit (at least we should strive in that direction).

Though Imran Khan has supported some Madrassahs but personally he believes more in Nationalism, liberalism and pluralism than the true golden principles of Islam (needless to say that all Madrassahs are also not promoting true Islam  - the true spirit of Islam is scattered). Actually, it is due to his more 'foreign background' and absence of clinging to true Eastern heritage which revolves around high moral ethics. Hence, the kind of crowd which follows him also include Pakistanis abroad with huge ego problems and arrogance who sometimes also make fun of Islam (Naooz Billah).

This whole electoral-political system of democracy is itself faulty and needs to be done away with but that is another topic. In democracy, majority is authority but we are told in Islam that the majority is not on the right path.

To understand this point, please read this verse from Qur'an:

"If you obey most of those on earth, they will lead you astray from the path of Allah. They follow nothing but conjecture: they do nothing but lie." - Qur'an (6: 116)

To sum up, we cannot give a big LIKE for Imran Khan's campaign. An average person will ask "What should we do then?" - The answer is simple - "REMAIN NEUTRAL AND DO NOT SUPPORT ANY POLITICAL PARTY IN THIS ELECTORAL-POLITICAL SYSTEM OF DEMOCRACY. SUPPORT AND GLORIFY THE TRUE PRINCIPLES OF ISLAM INSTEAD AND WAIT FOR ALMIGHTY ALLAH'S WILL."