When Imran Khan bowled the Buzdar bouncer
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won the general elections last year and formed the Central government. The PTI also won in two Provinces — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. After a bit of an intra-party tussle, the Pervez Khattak group defeated the Atif Khan group and Mahmood Khan became the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
All eyes were then set on Punjab as observers heard one name after the other being considered for the much-coveted post of the Province’s Chief Minister, which some consider more powerful than even that of the Prime Minister. Hence, when Prime Minister Imran Khan named Usman Buzdar to the position, it came as a huge shocker for many. This shock was not because Mr. Buzdar had previously been in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) — a lot of ‘electables’ had after all jumped ship from other parties to the PTI prior to the election. What was surprising was that not much was known about the new CM.
In a video message announcing Mr. Buzdar’s candidature, Mr. Khan said: “Buzdar belongs to an area of Punjab that is the most backward... he is the only MPA [Member of Provincial Assembly] to not have electricity at his home.” People were amazed that this was Mr. Khan’s criterion for choosing a CM. Here was someone elected a Member of Punjab Assembly for the first time. How could he have been given the huge responsibility of running the country’s most important Province? Mr. Buzdar may be good-hearted, honest and gentle, but was he the right person for the job?
Opposition within the PTI
Senior analyst Hafeezullah Niazi says that there is consensus, even within PTI ranks, that Mr. Buzdar was a poor choice. “Nobody is running Punjab; it’s a rudderless ship without any direction. Buzdar has no control over the bureaucracy. This is very dangerous as running Punjab without any control and command is unheard of,” Mr. Niazi said. Due to Mr. Buzdar’s inexperience, Punjab is said to be run by Governor Mohammad Sarwar, Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and senior Minister Aleem Khan (Mr. Aleem was recently arrested by the National Accountability Bureau).
However, Prime Minister Khan has put his weight behind Mr. Buzdar on various occasions. He has even gone to the extent of calling Mr. Buzdar ‘Wasim Akram-plus’.
Analyst Benazir Shah says that the PTI’s own MPAs complain of interference. Civil servants are routinely transferred and shuffled, while many positions have remained vacant. “These Ministers then leak news against their own CM to the media... Bureaucratic work is also slow due to the three power centres in Punjab. Even the Chief Secretary of Punjab is said to ignore the CM’s orders and instead listen to the Speaker,” said Ms. Shah.
There are many who believe that the way Punjab is currently being run will cost Mr. Khan and his party in the long run.
However, Mr. Niazi thinks that PM Khan is stuck with Mr. Buzdar because of his own ego. “Unless there is a disaster, Khan will stick to Buzdar, but if he feels that Titanic is sinking, and may lead to his own downfall, he will get rid of Buzdar.” Ms. Shah says there are rumours, and strong ones, of an upcoming change of command in Punjab, possibly within a few months. “Buzdar could hand in his own resignation, citing pressure on the PTI-led government in Punjab, which could offer some face-saving to the ruling party, especially the Prime Minister who has vehemently supported his decision to nominate Buzdar.”
Mr. Buzdar once admitted that he is “untrained”. Maybe that is why he has not given any media interview as a Chief Minister.
(Originally published in The Hindu)
All eyes were then set on Punjab as observers heard one name after the other being considered for the much-coveted post of the Province’s Chief Minister, which some consider more powerful than even that of the Prime Minister. Hence, when Prime Minister Imran Khan named Usman Buzdar to the position, it came as a huge shocker for many. This shock was not because Mr. Buzdar had previously been in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) — a lot of ‘electables’ had after all jumped ship from other parties to the PTI prior to the election. What was surprising was that not much was known about the new CM.
In a video message announcing Mr. Buzdar’s candidature, Mr. Khan said: “Buzdar belongs to an area of Punjab that is the most backward... he is the only MPA [Member of Provincial Assembly] to not have electricity at his home.” People were amazed that this was Mr. Khan’s criterion for choosing a CM. Here was someone elected a Member of Punjab Assembly for the first time. How could he have been given the huge responsibility of running the country’s most important Province? Mr. Buzdar may be good-hearted, honest and gentle, but was he the right person for the job?
Opposition within the PTI
Senior analyst Hafeezullah Niazi says that there is consensus, even within PTI ranks, that Mr. Buzdar was a poor choice. “Nobody is running Punjab; it’s a rudderless ship without any direction. Buzdar has no control over the bureaucracy. This is very dangerous as running Punjab without any control and command is unheard of,” Mr. Niazi said. Due to Mr. Buzdar’s inexperience, Punjab is said to be run by Governor Mohammad Sarwar, Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and senior Minister Aleem Khan (Mr. Aleem was recently arrested by the National Accountability Bureau).
However, Prime Minister Khan has put his weight behind Mr. Buzdar on various occasions. He has even gone to the extent of calling Mr. Buzdar ‘Wasim Akram-plus’.
Analyst Benazir Shah says that the PTI’s own MPAs complain of interference. Civil servants are routinely transferred and shuffled, while many positions have remained vacant. “These Ministers then leak news against their own CM to the media... Bureaucratic work is also slow due to the three power centres in Punjab. Even the Chief Secretary of Punjab is said to ignore the CM’s orders and instead listen to the Speaker,” said Ms. Shah.
There are many who believe that the way Punjab is currently being run will cost Mr. Khan and his party in the long run.
However, Mr. Niazi thinks that PM Khan is stuck with Mr. Buzdar because of his own ego. “Unless there is a disaster, Khan will stick to Buzdar, but if he feels that Titanic is sinking, and may lead to his own downfall, he will get rid of Buzdar.” Ms. Shah says there are rumours, and strong ones, of an upcoming change of command in Punjab, possibly within a few months. “Buzdar could hand in his own resignation, citing pressure on the PTI-led government in Punjab, which could offer some face-saving to the ruling party, especially the Prime Minister who has vehemently supported his decision to nominate Buzdar.”
Mr. Buzdar once admitted that he is “untrained”. Maybe that is why he has not given any media interview as a Chief Minister.
(Originally published in The Hindu)
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