Perils of populism.

Byline: Zahid Hussain

FAISAL Vawda is a 'phenomenon' that defines Imran Khan's populist regime. His theatrics on a TV talk show last week may have appeared excessively crude, but were not surprising. The federal minister for water resources has been known for his absurd acts.

Remember his dramatic entry dressed like a cowboy at the Chinese consulate in Karachi while it was under a terrorist attack in 2018? His presence at the spot may have been a nuisance for the security agencies trying to break the siege, but why would he care? It was his way of getting media attention.

Imran Khan, who had promised to bring in new talent to build a 'naya Pakistan', chose Vawda to head one of the most critical ministries. Soon after taking charge, Vawda promised to open the 'floodgates to jobs' that would even require Pakistan to import labour from other countries. We are still waiting for that miracle to happen. Meanwhile, his expensive sports car and motorbikes remain the centre of media attention.

But Vawda is not the only jewel in the crown of Imran Khan's collection of talents. He is part of a careless crew piloting a rudderless ship of state. Many of the crew members are quite entertaining and end up providing considerable comic relief in times of crisis. Whether it is the special assistant to the PM on information and her daily pearls of wisdom or the railway minister's habit of shooting from the hip, it's all a manifestation of an administration that thrives on absurdity.

We seem to be witnessing a dangerous confluence of populism and occultism.

If this were not enough, the PTI government also has ministers like Shehryar Afridi and Ali Amin Gandapur in its ranks. The minister of state for narcotics control, Afridi is known for his outrageous utterances, including his claim that 75 per cent of female students and 45pc male students in the capital city use drugs including crystal meth and ice. It is such statements, not backed by evidence, which render his remarks pointless. Similarly, his constant reminder that he 'owes his life to God' has made him a star in PTI ranks.

For Gandapur, the minister of Kashmir affairs, inflation 'benefits' a large section of the population. 'If someone is benefiting from rising prices then it is our farmers, they are the ones growing the tomatoes,' he remarked. Going by such profound logic, people should be hailing the hike in prices rather than protesting against it. The list of such knights in shining armour in the...