Of U-turns

Perhaps it was an inadvertent mistake when while talking to a group of journalists, Prime Minister Imran Khan defended his reputation for making U-turns. A leader who does not do timely U-turns is not a real leader, he said, going on to give the examples of the warrior king of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, and the universally reviled German dictator, Adolf Hitler. They faced defeat, contended the PM, because they did not change their strategies according to the situation, and as a result their armies were marooned in Russia. The examples are not only offensive - senior PPP leader Syed Khurshid Shah reacted sharply, saying Khan had "called himself Hitler in his U-turn remarks" - they are irrelevant too. Indeed, the two men pressed on in the face of imminent defeat, leading to disastrous consequences. But war-making and politics are entirely different affairs.
Apparently, what the PM meant was that it is better to make a retreat when the situation so requires than to insist on pursuing a failing strategy. It can be argued though that a "real leader" thinks several times before making a decision, and then he/she is expected to stick to it. Nonetheless, there is nothing unusual or wrong for politicians to maintain flexibility, and change stance with change in circumstances. In fact, it is quite normal. What may be considered a right position to take can alter over time. For instance, none of the mainstream parties, except for the ANP (then NAP), had expressed sympathies for the Bengali people at the time of military action in the erstwhile East Pakistan. But in the ensuing years, several politicians have frequently been citing that tragic event as an instructive lesson to complain about the smaller provinces' sense of deprivation or to vent their own angst over personal problems.
Khan's frequent backtrackings are explainable as expediency or lack of experience, such as his statement - prior to coming to power - that he'd rather commit suicide than go to the IMF with a begging bowl. Yet impelled by dire economic conditions, his government is currently in negotiations with the IMF. There are several other examples where he said one thing and did quite the opposite. To be sure, in politics leaders can roll with the punches but not do U-turns on basic issues. That is unacceptable. A case in point is the speech Khan made at the time of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan sit-in, applauded all across the country, only to make a U-turn on it. No compromises must be made on matters involving the country's basic law - the constitution - and safety and security of the citizens. While flexibility is generally allowable, U-turns on serious matters can only undermine public trust in the leader, and damage his/her credibility. It is hoped the Prime Minister realizes the difference.