Asif Mahmood

Imran Khan seems to have remembered his old friends. The word is that he has sent a message saying that once he is released, the first place he will go is Akbar S. Babar’s home.

Perhaps the old friends will return. The real question, however, is this: will the old Imran Khan return too?

It is not just Akbar S. Babar. How many decent and sincere people, like Justice Wajihuddin, came into his life, only to find that Imran preferred opportunists, self-seekers and dubious characters over those who approached him with genuine sincerity?

I am reminded of Naveed Khan as well. He was one of Imran Khan’s friends in the early days. Later, when filthy, corrupt and opportunistic characters began making their way into the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Naveed was deeply hurt.

Imran would often say, “Look, even if everyone else leaves me, Naveed and I will continue this struggle.”

One day, Naveed finally lost his patience. In a gathering, he interrupted Imran and said:

“Imran, these are the very people we once said should be hanged from lampposts. And now you have hung PTI from their ambitions.”

Only Naveed Khan could speak to Imran in that tone.

Once, Imran called from Britain. An employee had vandalised the office, and Imran asked Naveed to look into the matter.

Naveed replied, “What is there to look into? He is not to blame. The whole fault is yours.”

Imran accepted that he had made the mistake.

On another occasion, Imran told Naveed, “At least don’t interrupt me in public.”

Naveed replied, “You are betraying the dreams we once shared. I will challenge you wherever I have to.”

Then the distance between them began to grow.

One day, while still in the prime of his life, Naveed passed away. I told two or three friends, “Please let Imran know that Naveed is gone.”

I waited for several days. There was no condolence statement. Imran did not go to offer prayers for his departed friend either.

Now Imran is remembering his old friends.

Akbar Babar can still be found. But where will you find Naveed Khan?

Naveed Khan was an extremely close friend of Akbar S. Babar. Had he been alive today, he might have asked Akbar:

“My friend, Imran seems to be finding his way back to his old friends. But tell me, will it be the old Imran who comes back?”

And there is another question. Who is around Imran today, and what do they want from him?

There are certain people around Imran today who are feeding off him. They are making a business out of his name. They have no sympathy for him. They are simply vultures circling above him.