Cultivating Leadership - Indispensable to the Making of Naya Pakistan!

I

t was around 7 o’clock in the evening when I along with my family reached at D-Chowk to mark our attendance on 63^rd day at the dharna. Like usual, loud upbeat music was heard from the park area. “Bane Ga Naya Pakistan” undoubtedly is that wonderfully optimistic expression which has always helped in leaving a smile on my face. With the thought of being a part of Naya Pakistan and a hope in my heart I paved my way towards the place where I would hear and see Mr. Khan deliver his nightly speech. Worth mentioning here, this time around for the first time I was accompanied with my grandmother who returned to her homeland after her routine 06 months of stay in the USA. 

It won’t be wrong to say that even at 76, she gives me a tough competition on level of passion and energy, which amuses and inspires me both. It was the same vigor and liveliness that made her scamper through a creek of wet mud and dirt that was present there as a result of last night’s downpour in Islamabad. We finally made it to the women enclosure which was not adequately filled like it would be in the earlier days of the dharna. Almost all the women had their eyes transfixed on the giant display which was screening a tribute to Imran Khan. Atop the container, there were just a few people, some cheering up the crowd, some busy in conversation with each other and some immersed in deep thoughts. Girls sitting next to me were busy in taking selfies and enjoying the music. While I too was enjoying all the positive vibe, a voice which was almost inaudible and a face showing content and innocence (certainly the best thing around) got my attention. There was this small familiar boy who wanted me and my sister to get some colors painted on our faces. At first, I was reluctant but his innocuousness made me change my mind in a jiff and I presented my face to him with a big smile. After he finished, I handed him over Rs. 100 and I saw him nodding in negative, implying he did not have a change. Inspired I asked his name and assured him he did not have to return me any money.

I saw Jaffar turning joyfully to another girl for the same service he rendered to us. It was around 9.15 pm when Mr. Khan appeared on the container for his speech and it was as exuberant as it was on the first day. Due to the sudden change in weather, it was started to getting cold therefore we decided to head back right after Mr. Khan’s speech.

On our way back, I saw people haphazardly gathering at the entry point that led to the container. I could not fathom the frenzy and so out of curiosity I inquired the doorman about the situation. He briefed me that these people were trying to see their leader in person. I further asked about the management team to which he had nothing certain to state and I got my answers. I was flabbergasted at the overall situation going at the backside of the container.

There was no concept of a queue, neither there was any rule being observed. Doorman was pushing people away and people in turn were screaming and arguing with the doorman. Some workers of the party seemed indifferent and habitual to what was going on and some of them were trying to help those who were persuading them to get through the passage which would instigate the ones who weren’t getting a chance.

There are times when you start to evaluate things around more carefully and that happens when you brush up your cognitive skills. Something like that happened to me that night. Many things were peering at me and succeeded in grabbing my attention. Among those came my grandmother’s soiled clothes and feet, Jaffar’s overvaluing something which I personally undervalue, people’s squabble to get through the entrance and a laid back attitude of the management team at the back side of the container.

Since it’s a place where a gathering takes place every night; why didn’t I ever see a make-shift path made (usually done by placing bricks) so that people wouldn’t have to walk on the soft earth? Wouldn’t it have made easier for everyone that way? Does Jaffar go to school to receive an education? Does he paint people’s faces for a living? What will he do after the dharna comes to an end? Why was there no discipline at the backside of the container? Isn’t that area a part of the whole arrangement and responsibility of the management?

These questions which I believe need to be addressed certainly portray me yearning for someting close to perfect world. However, I want these questions to be answered at a place where the foundation of “Naya Pakistan” is being laid. Where every night all the faces twinkle with a hope and the whole lot of people dream with their eyes wide opened.

With over two months and several days it becomes of utmost significance that the change we are supporting about becomes palpable in the place where it is being originated from. I want to see someone as a leader who can think proactively for the wet path that leads to the dharna; so that, elderly who are not too energetic as my grandmother is  do not have to undergo any difficulty. I want to see someone as a leader who makes sure Jaffar receives an education. I want to see the doorman becoming a leader who ensures that his people are not manhandled. I want to see each one of the people at the entry point becoming those leaders who follow a set of rules and discipline. I want to see the PTI workers becoming leaders and take responsibility for each and every aspect in the vicinity.  I want to see all that cascaded down to the regular Ali and Ayesha and I want to see it all right at D-Chowk because I believe Mr. Khan alone, unless has a magic wand, cannot bring the change he is talking about unless he starts to cultivate leaders around him for that is the essence of true leadership, a definite need of hour and something indispensable to the making of Naya Pakistan.