Naureen Farooq Khan feels that the actual mission of PTI is long forgotten while following a path of destruction and populist agenda in Pakistan.

Only Pakistan is our Red Line and no particular individual can be termed as larger than life for Tehreek-e-Insaf, claims PTI Founding Member Naureen Farooq Khan. She is an educationist who has served in different capacities from teaching to administration leading innovative educational reforms in the country.

She joined PTI in 1999 when the party was struggling to claim its place. Naureen Farooq would plead PTI’s case to the masses. She travelled all across the country to share party’s manifesto to the people. Naureen Farooq was at the frontlines to defend PTI as an alternative to hereditary politics in Pakistan.

At that time, she used to claim that no one person can claim to be the larger-than-life leader for the party. Instead, the party will provide an opportunity to the common man to get elevated, participate in policy making and hold stakes in all decision making. For her, this dream was never achieved owing to the compromise by the leadership. However, she is still struggling to follow the actual vision of PTI. Naureen Farooq Khan spoke to The National Frontier in an exclusive interview. We pen our discussion for the readers.

The National Frontier: Can you share your journey with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf?

Naureen Farooq Khan: I was part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from its very early days. Tehrek-e-Insaf was formed in 1996 and I joined the party in 1999. Those were the days when people were not aware with the party’s name even. On the other hand, Imran Khan was also known as cricketer only. We would often face questionable eyes on his political experience. However, we had a faith that he will not compromise against his principles and we supported him vehemently.

I joined the party as a worker and contributed significantly. Moreover, I was appointed party’s president for Karachi owing to my commitment and political ideology. I was actively engaged in establishing the party in Karachi district. Later, I was appointed as head of the labor wing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf as Central General Secretary. This appointment was also for my strong networking with laborers and workers across the country. Until recently, I was acting as media coordinator for the party managing conventional and digital media for Tehreek-e-Insaf.

TNF: How do you see the statements claiming Imran Khan as a Red Line?

NFK: Simply put, it is absurd and unpatriotic. I feel that Imran Khan is founder of the Tehreek-e-Insaf; however, he is a political leader with lots of fallibilities as any human being. So, calling a leader as a red line is wrong from the very beginning. In fact, if any one calls some individual as a red line is categorically mistaken. By all means, if there is a red line; that is Pakistan. There is no other red line for us.

We consider our identity as a Pakistani as foremost and if someone tries to damage it; we stand against it. Unfortunately, the current party lines are on the wrong track and they are taking a political issue as a matter of national security. Let me be clear, it is vice versa. We must not forget that Imran Khan had directly targeted many political opponents during his term as Prime Minister. So, why would someone call him a red line when he is simply facing the political response now.

TNF: How do you see the current political rifts in Tehreek-e-Insaf with multiple faces leading presenting numerous views?

NFK: I can just laugh on the current party leaders in limelight. Who is Gohar, who is Salman Akram Raja? They were never there in the policy structure or during the early years of the party. Rather, they are just the beneficiaries of the current crisis. They are pleading the cases of Tehreek-e-Insaf and Imran Khan in courts. And, this is their only quality. However, they have taken the reigns of Tehreek-e-Insaf in their hands; and that is very unfortunate.

Therefore, the legal group is running the party without any political standing or presence of those who were there at the table when Tehreek-e-Insaf was founded.

TNF: How do you see the journey of Tehreek-e-Insaf?

NFK: Our hearts bleed when we see how Tehreek-e-Insaf is being turned into an extremist group with an ideology which was never its own. The actual Tehreek-e-Insaf had a very clear vision. It wasn’t person specific or based on worshipping a leader. It was founded with an exemplary vision of bringing a real change for the masses. Of course, there were millions of people like us who supported the party during that time. The purpose was to bring about a visible change.

However, we saw a poor performance when it comes to governance, accountability or leadership when we were given power by the people. The current situation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a testimony of the disaster. I believe that we have lost our track and left what we were supposed to do. Instead, we are just following a path of disaster with a mission to get hold of the federal and Punjab governments, come what may. I can certainly say that this was never the vision of forming Tehreek-e-Insaf.

TNF: How do you see the performance of PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?

NFK: It is a pure disaster. We have been unable to bring about any change in the province. In fact, I will term it a failure. Look, I travel a lot and I have recently visited parts of KPK and Punjab provinces. If you visit Punjab, you will find extremely good governance visible to you in form of roads, infrastructure, opportunities and security. On the other hand, you visit KPK and you observe exact opposite of it. Sometimes, I question how are the KPK people being fooled to such an extent when they have completely dismantled infrastructure, no jobs or business opportunities and no security.

You can see the current rise in extremism in the province. I think it can be attributed to the KPK government whose Chief Minister and the ministers are traveling across Pakistan to garner support for Imran Khan. At the same time, they are leaving the entire province to the mercy of extremists under a framework of poor governance.

TNF: How will you rate the Punjab Government?

NFK: One can only be unrealistic to not appreciate what we are seeing in Punjab right now. There is plethora of opportunities in the province for literally every segment. Whether someone is a laborer or an educationist or an IT expert; they are offering to every segment. They are doing infrastructure upgrade at a scale which has not been seen recently.

Frankly, if you rate Usman Buzdar opposite to Maryam Nawaz; you will rank Maryam at 99 and Usman at zero. I hope PTI leadership follows the suit in KPK province to offer some relief to the masses.

TNF: How do you see Tehreek-e-Insaf moving forward from here?

NFK: I sincerely believe that there is still room for the party to correct its course and follow a policy of national unity. This is the only way forward. We must not forget that we were really harsh with the political opponents when there was PTI government. So, why cry now or claim foreign agenda or for that instance; take umbrella of red line or national security?

We must follow the political course, revise our framework of political agenda and work for inclusivity with all political actors. Honestly, we can do it by avoiding the cult mentality and move forward with a political vision. We must note that political agenda has political costs and we must not align it with national security framework; since no single political group can be singular face of Pakistan.

I believe that Imran Khan would also be thinking about it. He has taken several U-turns in the past. I hope he will take this U-turn in the interest of the nation and to move things forward in the interest of the people of Pakistan.

TNF: What is your message to youth and the followers of Tehreek-e-Insaf who are against the current setup?

NFK: I had personally intervened when Sheikh Rasheed was infuriating the youth asking them to burn everything when they arrested Imran Khan. I told him that you do not have any children and Imran Khan’s children are abroad and why is he doing this to the young children who may be the breadwinners in their families. I told him to tone this down. Unfortunately, the party did not follow my advice and aggressively attacked the State. We saw its outcome.

Youth is always emotional and they follow howsoever they are guided. It is unfortunate that Imran Khan introduced vulgarity and abusive environment in Pakistani politics. They are just following the same trend. However, I hope that the people are having a clearer understanding of the facts.

I want to urge the people to avoid emotional attachment to single person or a party and actually see the performance. Yes, one should question and make their leaders accountable. However, they should never turn them into a redline or a godfather when they are just trying to achieve their political objectives.