In an interview with TIME, Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan discussed his tenure in government and the present status of his nation. From 2018 until he was ousted as prime minister of Pakistan in 2022 following a vote of no confidence, Khan held the position. He encountered several difficulties throughout his term, including financial crises, political turmoil, and a pandemic that affected the entire world. Khan discussed these difficulties and his outlook for Pakistan's future in this interview.
Khan continues to think that his life is in danger. Khan stated that his life is still in danger at the beginning of the conversation. Khan was wounded three times in the leg while attending a demonstration in November 2022. Notwithstanding their denial of the charge, he believes three current government figures are ultimately to blame for the attack. According to Khan, he had long anticipated an assassination attempt and is concerned that more would be launched. Khan claims, “For one and a half months before [my shooting], I was warning that this is what is going to happen,” Khan says. “I told them that they will bump me off and blame a religious fanatic. they would provide me with this information from within the intelligence agencies for the three and a half years I was in power. So now, [my followers] outside [my home] think that if they detain me, they'll kill me.
Pakistan's economic crisis has fundamental roots. Khan also spoke about Pakistan's current economic crisis, which includes record-high inflation of 47% year over year in March 2023 and a 54% decline in the value of the rupee over that same time. He pointed out that the country only has $4.6 billion in foreign reserves or $20 per person, and that avoiding default depends on resuming a stalled IMF bailout. Khan stated that while Pakistan's economy had relied on foreign funds for decades to keep the books in order, the funds have essentially run out since the Trump administration stopped providing the $300 million in yearly security support in 2018.
The major issue, in Khan's opinion, is that we import much more than we export. Furthermore, neither of our governments gave any attention to how to increase exports. We run out of dollars whenever our economy begins to expand due to an increase in imports. Finally, we are forced to visit the IMF. There are just roughly 2.5 million taxpayers in Pakistan, which has a population of 220 million. Taxes are not paid by most people, especially the wealthy elite. "We have a huge debt, [and] the reason we can't pay it off is that you need to generate wealth. Your industry and agriculture, though, which are both contracting, are what would generate prosperity. No foreign or internal investors exist in Pakistan. They no longer have any faith.
Khan hoped to use cricket to promote investment and grow Pakistan's tourism sector. Khan has always supported cricket and thinks it might boost Pakistan's economy. Pakistan hosted Sri Lanka in 2019 for the first test match there in ten years during Khan's leadership as prime minister. The "normalization" of visiting Pakistan was crucial for reasons greater than sport, according to Khan, a former captain of the national cricket team. The investment comes first, according to Khan. "Pakistan has more investment opportunities the more normalized the situation is. Pakistanis were being met by businessmen in Dubai, but they would not travel to Pakistan. So how can one develop an economy in such a setting? The second is tourism, as it is extremely popular in Pakistan. During a turbulent era during which his relationship with Pakistan's strong military had soured, Khan was removed from office. His refusal to support the military's choice to command the nation's intelligence agencies, known as ISI, is thought to have led to his demise, according to analysts. Khan may also have alienated Pakistan's military, which values a cordial relationship with the superpower, due to his continuous criticism of the United States.
Khan is still well-liked in Pakistan despite the commotion surrounding his resignation. Even now, he has a devoted following, and those who support him think that he was the victim of a political plot. Khan, who claims that Donald Lu, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asia, informed the Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. that "there will be consequences" if Khan was not removed from power, believes that the United States was responsible for his deposition. Both the White House and the State Department have denied any participation in Khan's removal.
As Pakistan's prime minister, Khan left a mixed legacy. His admirers praise him for making an effort to combat inequality, poverty, and corruption in the nation. He also made an effort to expand Pakistan's tourist sector and draw in foreign capital, using his status as a former cricket star to enhance the nation's reputation abroad. Khan has also received plaudits for how he handled the COVID-19 pandemic, with Pakistan posting a far lower death rate per capita than its neighbor India.
Khan's detractors contend that his strategies were ineffectual and did not deal with the structural problems plaguing Pakistan's economy. They also charge him with being lenient towards extremist organizations, notably those that are active in Kashmir, a contentious region. Concerns about Khan's dedication to democracy and human rights have also been raised by his attempts to repress the media and restrict free expression.
Overall, controversy and polarisation characterized Imran Khan's time as Pakistan's prime minister. While his detractors contend that his policies were ineffectual and did not address the underlying problems plaguing Pakistan's economy, his admirers acknowledge that he made an effort to combat corruption, poverty, and inequality. Whatever one's feelings towards Khan, it is undeniable that he is still a significant player in Pakistani politics and that there will be discussion over his legacy for many years to come.