By Imran Malik
Elon Musk’s political missteps highlight a global lesson in power dynamics. Pakistani tycoon Aleem Khan offers a masterclass in balancing business with politics—something Musk could learn from.
A Lesson from Pakistan’s Political Businessmen
In Pakistan, some of the country’s top businessmen — including the likes of Mian Mansha — have long supported various political parties. And in return, they’ve reaped significant benefits. Mansha, for instance, backed powerful political players and was later rewarded through favorable opportunities and influence.
Similarly, in Sindh, Anwar Majeed, a prominent businessman, extended financial and strategic support to Asif Ali Zardari. While Majeed eventually faced prison time, it is widely believed he also enjoyed substantial perks during his political alliance.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Tarkai family backed PTI, secured ministries, and profited politically and economically. The same pattern was seen with Jahangir Tareen and Aleem Khan, both of whom made heavy investments in political parties, not only gaining influence but also enjoying key ministerial positions and political leverage to this day.
Now, compare this to Elon Musk’s political experiment in the U.S.
Musk funded Republicans, invested heavily in key states, and helped support Donald Trump’s rise. In return, Trump rewarded Musk with a symbolic appointment as head of a newly formed advisory body called “DOGE.” But when Musk found himself excluded from important decision-making and ignored in key meetings, he turned against Trump, leading to a public spat, mudslinging, and eventually, a ceasefire.
However, Musk still seems to believe that his business empire alone can guarantee political success. That’s not how politics works — not even in America.
If Elon Musk truly wants to master the art of political-business synergy, he might need to spend some time with Aleem Khan in Pakistan, who has perfected the formula: build a business, back the right party, gain influence, and extract political returns strategically.
Aleem Khan bought Samaa TV to amplify his voice and power. If Musk thinks buying X (Twitter) is enough, he might be mistaken. Perhaps he should consider acquiring Fox News or CNN instead.
Moral of the story:
Business alone isn’t power. Political wisdom, timing, and strategic influence — that’s the real currency.
