The country of Pakistan rejoiced when Imran Khan took over as the Prime Minister as it was believed that Imran Khan who brought the world cup to Pakistan, will similarly deliver on Kashmir and global domination. Fast forward to 2020, Khan faced the ultimate embarrassment as he was chased away from the parliament by a united opposition amidst the slogans of “Go Niazi Go”.
Pakistan’s civilian politics is witnessing a major upheaval as the country’s opposition parties have united against Khan and his masters in the Pakistan Military led by General Qamar Bajwa. An insecure Khan, who is most likely been selected by the Army rather than elected by the people, is now jailing opposition leaders in a bid to silence them.
At a time when the international media is keeping a keen eye on the recent happenings in Pakistan, Imran Khan had to suffer the ignominy of being chased away from the parliament amidst incessant booing and slogans of “Muk Gaya Tera Show Niazi, Go Niazi Go Niazi.”
Opposition staged two shows in one day, yesterday. On National Assembly floor Imran Khan was booed and forced to leave the house with slogans: Muk Gaya Tera Show Niazi, Go Niazi Go Niazi. pic.twitter.com/IxOi1q0dHd
— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) October 17, 2020
Prime Minister Imran Khan chased out of the national assembly amid slogans of 'Go Niazi Go'. pic.twitter.com/ysJqFmX9qe
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) October 16, 2020
The use of the word ‘Niazi’ holds significance as the Pakistani PM has attempted to keep his last name ‘Niazi’ away from the spotlight. While it is common for political leaders to modify their names, in this case certainly the reasons have to do with Imran Khan’s meek attempts to underplay or dissociate himself with the embarrassing surrender of Pakistani forces after their defeat in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war which led to the disintegration of the country and paved way for the creation of Bangladesh.
Niazi is a hated surname in Pakistan as it reminds the rouge country of its humiliating defeat in the 1971 war at the hands of Indian forces. Lieutenant General Ameer Abdullah Khan Niazi, who was the then commanding officer of the Pakistan Army, had surrendered his .38 calibre revolver to the then Eastern Army commander Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora on December 16, 1971. India took AAK Niazi as a prisoner of war and repatriated him to Pakistan in 1975.
Imran Khan in an attempt to ensure there is the bare minimum coverage of the meeting of the joint Opposition in Gujranwala had called for the session of the National Assembly on the same day as the meeting.
“Is it a way to run the house? It is a biased approach,” said the Opposition PPP-P’s MNA Naveed Qamar.
The public meeting in Gujranwala saw former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announcing a battle cry against Khan and his masters. Addressing the crowd via video conferencing from London, Sharif roared, “Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, you packed up our government, which was working well, and put the nation and the country at the alter of your wishes.”
He added, “You (Bajwa) are responsible for rigging the 2018 elections, curbs on the media, abduction, torture, and harassment of journalists and forcing judges to give decisions of your choice.”
It was perhaps the first instance when Pakistan’s political leaders are openly taking on the Military – the country’s de facto rulers. “Today, our struggle is against the ‘selectors’ who installed a ‘selected PM by manipulation elections to bring an incapable man like him (Imran Khan) to power,” thundered Sharif.
Stunned by the crows at Gujranwala and Sharif’s tirades, Khan decided to show his true characteristics. Acting like a true blue street thug, Khan resorted to threatening Sharif as he claimed that while Sharif his enjoying a VIP life in London if he were to return, he will show him which prison he puts Sharif into.
“Tum wapas ao, main dekhta hun, hum tumhein kese rakete hai”, remarked Khan marking a yet another low in Pakistani politics.
Open threat by Imran Khan to Nawaz Sharif. ‘Come back and I will show you which prison I will put you into’. Language of a street thug backed by a good Army which lacks basic values. pic.twitter.com/bS7mESRWRV
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) October 17, 2020
Acting as a true leader of Pakistan, Khan also stopped to age shaming as he referred Sharif’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz as ‘Nani’.
Watch: PM Imran Khan resorts to age-shaming, refers to Maryam Nawaz as ‘nani’#PMIKAddressToTF #ImranKhan #NawazSharif #MaryamNawaz pic.twitter.com/KaHRcDHJiN
— NDN (@NDN_pk) October 17, 2020
However, this was not the lowest that Khan could stoop to as he then proceeded to mock Sharif’s “gloomy” picture which was snapped when his wife Kulsoom had passed away.
PM Imran Khan mocks a "gloomy" Nawaz Sharif with a photograph when his wife Kalsoom passed away. Absolutely vile and shameful. pic.twitter.com/rijOzsudaX
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) October 17, 2020
Imran Khan is acting like a man who knows his day as the Prime Minister are numbered as Pakistan heads to yet another political crisis of its own making.