Pakistan's former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) chief Imran Khan, delivers a speech to his supporters during a rally to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Pakistan's independence day in Lahore on August 13, 2022. (Photo by Arif ALI / AFP) (Photo by ARIF ALI/AFP via Getty Images)
Imran Khan has once again turned to the IMF, marking the third instance of such engagement. Previous appeals occurred during the 2014 dharna and after the 2022 regime change. Khan’s repeated recourse to the IMF tends to coincide with moments when he perceives himself at a disadvantage, jeopardizes the nation’s interests.
Nasim Zehra, in her correspondence to this scribe, expressed deep concern over PTI’s attempt to embroil the IMF in Pakistan’s electoral politics. Such a move, she asserts, is not only baseless and unprofessional but also outside the IMF’s mandate. Moreover, it could significantly harm Pakistan, delaying urgently needed financial assistance given the country’s dire financial and economic state.
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PTI’s historical engagement with U.S. firms dates back to 2001 when a U.S. lobbying firm, LGS LLC led by Stephen Payne, was enlisted. In 2024, Fayaz Qureshi of Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FDP) hired the same lobbying firm in Washington DC, reportedly under PTI’s directives. This move comes amid allegations of attempts to tie funding to Pakistan with “human rights issues,” indirectly linking them to PTI’s agenda.
Notably, the recent hiring of the lobbying firm coincided with Imran Khan’s accusations against the U.S. government for orchestrating his government’s downfall through alleged conspiracies involving US diplomat Donald Lu and General Bajwa.
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Farrukh Saleem, a prominent Pakistani political scientist and analyst, highlighted several critical points regarding Imran Khan’s correspondence with the IMF in his tweet dated 22nd February 2024. Saleem underscored concerns such as the investigation of election integrity, the impact of skyrocketing petrol prices, the devaluation of the currency, and the potential damage to Pakistan’s international reputation. He also raised alarms about Khan’s apparent pursuit of power at any cost, coupled with a perceived zero-sum mentality.
Imran Khan’s actions raise concerns about his leadership and its implications for Pakistan’s stability and international relations. While advocating for one’s rights is commendable, Khan’s failure to distinguish between personal and national interests poses a significant risk to the country’s welfare. It is imperative for Khan to prioritize Pakistan’s well-being above personal ambitions and confrontational strategies.
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The writer is a lawyer, academic and political analyst. She has authored a book titled ‘A Comparative Analysis of Media & Media Laws in Pakistan.’ She can be contacted at: yasmeenali62@gmail.com and tweets at @yasmeen_9
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