22/08/2026
""""""""""scarecrow"""""""""""
A man born in Lahore in 1952 has achieved success in almost every field of life. Beginning his educational journey at Cathedral School, Lahore, he went on to study at Aitchison College and Keble College, University of Oxford, where he earned a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). Alongside becoming an outstanding cricketer and leading Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup, he successfully accomplished what was once considered an impossible project—the establishment of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital. In 2018, he went on to become the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The person I am referring to is Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
He is a person who seems to turn everything he touches into gold—not because he is simply a fortunate man, but because behind every achievement lies his relentless hard work, determination, perseverance, and an unwavering desire to make the impossible possible.
A person who has conquered almost every field of life may, on the surface, appear capable of being reduced to nothing more than a scarecrow; however, in reality, that seems almost impossible.
I believe that those institutions or individuals who think they can eliminate Khan, or continue to use him merely as a scarecrow, may have their hopes or misconceptions, but I see little likelihood of them succeeding in such a plan.
When a crop reaches a stage where there is a danger of birds or animals damaging it, farmers sometimes put up a straw figure to frighten them away. This figure is called a scarecrow. In the current political situation in Pakistan, Imran Khan is being treated as a scarecrow. Whenever the birds and animals disturb the owners, the cover is removed from Imran Khan, and merely seeing Khan is enough to force them to their knees.
And why would that not be the case?
There was a time when it was believed—and I personally held the same view—that Khan was afraid of imprisonment and could not spend even three days in jail. Yet this very man has endured three years of imprisonment, including nine months in solitary confinement, and remains mentally and emotionally prepared to endure even more.
If such a person comes out of prison again, what he may do—and what he may not be able to do—is perhaps unclear to the general public, but it is certainly very clear to the present rulers and their allies.
To reach his destinations, Imran Khan has endured immense hardship and made extraordinary sacrifices throughout his life. The difficulties he is facing today are many times greater than those he faced in the past. Therefore, he will emerge from this period far stronger, more resilient, and more formidable than he was before.
It appears that even those circles who once underestimated him have now realized this.
