Yeah regardless of whether we completely approve of his political views or not he is someone who is decent and untainted with corruption; someone who has given something back to the country in the form of his many social projects (I don’t need to list them here..). What have Zardari and NS ever given back to Pakistan despite their enormous wealth??
Had IK not entered politics but accepted PCB chairmanship in the past, I am sure some people would have then slated him for taking the easy way out. That world cup debacle of 2007 could have easily happened under IK’s chairmanship and then people would have said why did he have to accept that?..saari mitti paleed kar lee. There is no guarantee that even if Imran took over as PCB chairman now our cricket fortunes would change for the better. He has no magic wand in his hand. A chairman (cf. captain) is only as good as the players that are available to him. The fact of the matter is our current team is not only short on talent but also lacks mental toughness that is needed to win big matches against tough teams on a consistent basis. They even struggled against a weakened Australia team at Dubai/Abu Dhabi recently. I am not sure even a weakened Australia would have lost the 5th ODI if the series was still alive!!
As it is we might not get to see Pakistan winning another world cup in our life time. It is because of IK and a few others that people around the world still regard our cricket and cricketers (even though the current lot are essentially jokers and chokers) with respect.
And if Imran had shunned both politics and cricket and given more priority to his private/family life (I mean he did not really need all this pain, nuisance or hullaballoo. He could have easily commuted back and forth between London and Islamabad/Lahore as he did in the 70s, 80s and early 90s or indulged in some of his favourite hobbies such as hunting and trekking etc.) then everyone would have criticised him for snubbing the nation.
You cannot always win with some impatient and thaali k baigan Pakistanis
And Zardari and Nawaz are ‘successful’ politicians not because of personal charisma or any outstanding qualities or qualifications. Both are of average intellect; both are not graduates of a good institute for a start. PPP is still defined by the legacy of ZAB and NS is banking on the name of his party even though his Muslim League has nothing to do with the parent Muslim League founded by Jinnah. Both Zardari and NS should thank their lucky stars rather than anything-else for being where they are now…so iss khushfehmi se sab bahar niklo. And let’s not forget that both ZAB (though he was talented in his own right..) and NS were nurtured by military dictators.
There was a time when we had outstanding ministers and diplomats like Agha Shahi, Jamshed Marker, Mehboob-ul-Haq etc.; now we have to contend with jokers like Wazi Zafar, Sheikh Rashid, Rehman Malik, Nabeel Gol Matol (err…Gabol…sorry could not resist it!!), Fazlur Rehman’s illiterate brother (forgetting his name) and many pathetic others
While we may disagree with some of IK’s views we should atleast have the decency and commonsense to appreciate what he has done and is still doing in order to bring a meaningful change in the lives of under-privileged Pakistanis
And just because Imran lists Jinnah and Mahatir as his heroes, it should not be taken to mean that he agrees with their every word or deed. Like I do support and admire IK despite having reservations (and I am entitled to..) about some of his political views