Imran Khan, first victim of his own Tsunami! – by Dr. Nadia Khan
The career of Imran Khan, a cricketer turned politician, is full of colours, contradictions, and controversies. Since his debut in cricket in 1971 initially, and later in 1976 onward, he became known as a socialite due to his non-stop partying at London nightclubs such as Annabel’s and Tramp and further gained notoriety in London gossip columns for romancing young debutantes such as Susannah Constantine, Lady Liza Campbell and the artist Emma Sergeant. Then came Sita White; her paternity claim in NY court of law for Tyrian Khan, to be the daughter of Imran Khan, that fully exposed the former World Cup winner in the eyes of common Pakistanis beside being his philanthropic work of Shaukat Khannum Hospital.
With this flamboyant past, he entered the politics in 1996 with emphasis on anti-corruption policies, formed Pakistan Tahreek e Insaaf (PTI) and tried to broker a deal with the then dictator, Pervaiz Musharraf to take the powerful portfolio. It didn’t work well even with all foreign blessings; hence he walked out from National Assembly (2002-7) where he had only one seat. Partially his involvement in Lawyers Movement, to restore Ifthikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, had given PTI & himself a life line to take some ground in active politics & gain some popularity. His initial stance over missing persons, Dr. Afia Siddiqui’s disappearance, her unlawful detention & then single-sided trial in US, drone attacks in tribal areas of Pakistan, and louder voice over Baluchistan issues, have transformed him from power-hungry aristocratic drawing-room politics to people’s politics!
After the success of his Lahore political-cum musical show, number of his supporters often called him as Prime Minister-in-waiting, had gained some extra confidence by calling himself as the 3rd political force in Pakistan who would sweep coming general elections. He termed his success as Tsunami – a pseudo name given after 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that was the deadliest natural disaster in human history that killed around 230,000 people in 14 countries, likely calling his upcoming political gains as Tsunami against traditional politicians.
Unfortunately, even before this Tsunami begins, Imran Khan started taking U –turns against his own pre-defined political policies and opened PTI doors wide for all feudal politicians of past, especially close aides of former dictator. Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Khurshid Kusuri, Jehangir Tareen, Sardar Asif Ahmed Ali are few old friends of Musharraf, to name with the exception of Javed Hashmi, joined hands with Imran Khan to become the part of upcoming political Tsunami. Someone rightly pointed out that “with the induction of so many Musharraf’s ministers in today’s Imran PTI looks like that Imran has joined Q league.” In coming years, this might turn out to be a real threat when Imran Khan’s voice -in his own PTI- would be considered feeble due to the presence of large number of Musharraf friends.
Those they had watched Khurshid Kasuri PTI joining ceremony, had noticed an amazing act of chairs snatching by the participants. Rather than guiding the voters, this shameful-act was shamelessly endorsed by PTI secretary information Shafqat Mahmood & chairman Imran Khan, as an act of “innocent people” because they are fed up of Zardari regime; so “they might take away chairs of govt. office bearers.” This is a clear indication that how Imran Khan will be swept by Musharraf’s friends when the need of time would come!
His second u-turn came when he had brokered a ‘silent deal’ with Altaf Hussain, leader of MQM who controls Karachi from London, to arrange his public meeting in Karachi on 25thDecember 2011 leaving behind all the hot conversation he has had against MQM founding leader and an ambition to file a case against him in London court. It was learnt that he had an out of court settlement with MQM and agreed that“Sita White case will not be brought to justice in US by MQM and in reply he will not file petition against Altaf Hussain in London .” This “settlement” was visible in Karachi while addressing his supporters; Imran Khan did not utter single word about MQM leader, forgetting his own previous statements about later & MQM atrocities on 12thMay 2007, when numbers of PTI workers were killed by Mutahidda terrorists! His stance against MQM self-exiled leader has created doubts that “hidden” hands are brining MQM and PTI closure for upcoming electoral alliance against PML (N) and ruling PPP.
In past, Imran Khan had always raised his voice against the drone attacks in tribal areas of Pakistan . Under the shadows of “Salalah check post attack by US & NATO forces,” recent statement of US ambassador, Cameron Munter that “Imran Khan is not against US” has astonished large section of society in Pakistan who foresees Imran as hardliner against US policies in the region. However it was observed that US ambassador statement came up only when Imran Khan has quietly visited US state department and expressed “his case” to Washington; an act known to very few in Pakistan and even in the folds of PTI. Probably, this was the reason due to that Imran Khan didn’t attend Difa e Pakistan rally, the public meeting arranged by 40 religious parties in Lahore on 18th December 2011, to pass a soft message to US at this crucial juncture of time when Zardari-led PPP govt is shacking due to a small piece of paper penned by an American!
Imran Khan has always been at the forefront of highlighting missing persons issue including Dr Aafia’s case. In one of his speech he had demanded that “the Government of Pakistan tell us how Dr Aafia ended up in Afghanistan with her three children; how can a frail woman attack US marines; why has the Government of Pakistan not taken any active measures to bring her back home to face any trial. The Government needs to expose those who have aided and abetted the kidnapping of Dr Aafia,” while he was referring Pervaiz Musharraf govt. After that he has asked PTI members to actively participate in demonstrations, vigils across the globe. Upon his directive Mohammad Kassam, member of PTI UK was one of the several people who had kept the 7 day vigil outside the US Embassy, spending up to 20 hours in the wet weather of London . In recent days, the world has witnessed that the foreign minister of Pervaiz Musharraf regime who has joined PTI recently, while addressing one of the public meeting was sitting next to Imran Khan at the stage where as down among the crowd, there were one or two flags showing few slogans about the release of Afia Siddiqui but Imran Khan didn’t say few words about Dr Afia’s case or her release from US custody! Time has changed; a leader is born & gained popularity by using these burning issues and now no need to look upon these forgotten souls!
Could Imran Khan be the real saviour of people of Pakistan or Pakistanis are going to witness same old wine in a new bottle with fancy cricket label having singers like Abrar ul Haq and Shahzad Roy selling his political agenda over popular Pakistani national tunes! Time will confirm that anti-corruption policies were just few words to gain popularity or actual agenda of PTI to implement, the shadows of flamboyant past are still visible or re born under the banner of musical nights, a real saviour of Pakistan has arrived or Mr. 20% has arrived after Mr. 10%, would history has repeated itself when someone has accepted the help of hidden hands of establishment or used the shoulder of common men to gain power!
Any party -new or old- with slogan of “change” how they could bring positive change in society when they have migratory birds like PPPP former foreign minister, Musharraf’s former foreign minister or bunch of kings’ party holders, would have to think as why these traditional politicians are strengthening the hands of a gentleman who only won one seat in any general elections? The answer is simple in Pakistani environment. The traditional politicians are very sensible, since then they realized that the “powerful hand” is on Imran Khan’s head, they know that the power would fall on him, so they started gathering around him to share the piece of cake; Pakistan. That’s what the political history of Pakistan is, since last 60 years!
I honestly don’t understand how people are convinced that the PPP is most apt to rule the country. I’m just going to point out one thing that all the PPP supporters seem to just swerve around and avoid.
Imran Khan is not a ‘cricketer turned into a politician’. He’s a Philosophy, Politics and Economics graduate from the Oxford University. Yes, you heard that right. Oxford University. Hmmm, so the question arises, what about Asif Ali Zardari? I mean come on, you PPP supporters think he’s a more suitable president than Imran Khan right? Well, I’m just going to quote directly out of Wikipedia here to avoid any bias.
“Zardari’s academic background remains a question mark. He received his primary education from Karachi Grammar School. His official biography says he graduated from Cadet College, Petaro in 1972. He went to St Patrick’s High School, Karachi from 1973–74; a school clerk says he failed his final examination there. In March 2008, he claimed he had graduated from the London School of Business Studies with a bachelor of education degree in the early 1970s. Zardari’s official biography states he also attended Pedinton School in Britain. His British education, however, has not been confirmed, and a search did not turn up any Pedinton School in London. The issue of his diploma was contentious because a 2002 rule required candidates for Parliament to hold a college degree, but the rule was overturned by Pakistan’s Supreme Court in April 2008.”
Take off your blindfolds people.
Tumhari tehrik apnay Tsunami se aap hi khud kushi karay gi
Jo shakh-e-foji pe aashiana banay ga na-payedar ho ga
VIEW: Imran Khan, where do you stand on Taseer? —Aisha Sarwari
After the Karachi jalsa (rally), Imran Khan has become a truly national force, but with his tsunami the tide has brought in a lot of debris that he needs to clear up.
It has been a year since one of Pakistan’s bravest sons, Salmaan Taseer, was killed in Kohsar Market in Islamabad by his religious fanatic elite guard. That, for supporting the cause of a wrongly convicted Aasia Bibi under the draconian blasphemy law of Pakistan. The reaction to his killer, Mumtaz Qadri, shocked the world. Greeted with flower petals, Qadri was met outside the courts by the jubilant lawyer community.
Meanwhile, we have seen everything hopeful be defined by Imran Khan as he swept the political front with his rallies and TV appearances. No longer a party described as a one-man-show, powerful politicians have flocked to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). What we have not seen however is some clarity on what brand of Islam Imran Khan wants in Pakistan when he prays on stage, starts his speech with Scripture or when his youth wing on Twitter quotes the Quran instead of Chomsky. Disturbingly, there was a fudging comment by Imran Khan about Pakistan not being a secular country.
Not only is there a lack of clarity, there is actually a contradiction. On the one hand Imran Khan condemns the killing of Salmaan Taseer and on the other he sends his representative to a rally of Qadri supporters.
If the biggest tragedy of 2011, Salmaan Taseer, died for something he believed was an important question for the country to resolve, then the biggest litmus test for where Pakistan is heading is what Imran Khan has to say about this. Being the party of change, youth and clean revolution, we need to know what he thinks of the blasphemy laws, the overuse and the perverse overprotection of the sentiments of the Muslim majority in the country and the second class status of minorities in Pakistan.
Charmed by Imran Khan but not by his post-rally politics we are fearful that the ‘Children of Zia’ who have grown up with a warped sense of history and form the bulk of the party will push Imran Khan to take a reactionary approach — create a ‘security state’ essentially run on an isolationist agenda. Then comes the question of Pakistan’s nuclear safety, which is a free world obsession. What safeguards will Imran Khan put in place to ensure that our nuclear assets do not become leverage and that our establishment does not use them as a gun to our head to bargain with the rest of the world?
Run on perception, international investments are like sparrows that will fly off to more peaceful pastures, especially if we keep clamouring on old themes of ‘honour’ and ‘national sovereignty’. Mr Khan must not forget that he has come with the promise of justice, education and accountability. He also promises a modern and progressive polity that Jinnah envisaged for this country. Clearly then he must also realise that in Pakistan, Jinnah’s words have been ignored and twisted beyond recognition. The founding father’s secular ideals have been sacrificed for the penumbra imagined and read into his ambiguous and general appeals to Islam. Imran Khan has already said enough that is open to misinterpretation and therefore it is time that Imran Khan comes out openly and unequivocally about where he stands on these issues.
The population bulge of under-30-year-olds that are likely to use social media and the global village to be exposed to progressive elements will be influenced by Mr Khan’s religious inclinations and demand that their country be saved. A level below these champions of a perverted sense of middle-class morality are people who reject modernity as ‘westernisation’. Modernity, which encompasses social justice, egalitarianism and freedom of expression, is a prerequisite to civilisation without which Pakistan will remain hopelessly out of step with the changing realities of our world. Ultimately this will prove to be a tsunami of destruction. After all, what will stop the flailing millions marching against modernity from turning their guns on Imran Khan, whose relationship with Jemima Khan, his ex-wife, both during their marriage and afterwards is already the subject of criticism by these narrow-minded practitioners of faith.
Today he screams that he will save Pakistan from American hegemony but one hopes that it does not translate into an isolationist worldview. Today he claims that he will give justice to women who are oppressed by feudal and cultural laws, but tomorrow how will he stop his religiously charged party goons from preventing women in getting the top slots in a future administration?
Salmaan Taseer gave the ultimate sacrifice for minorities who have no voice in this country. As supporters of Imran’s manifesto of change, we want to know whether under his administration, will those who stand up for human rights, be crowned rather than assassinated and will murderers be punished rather than garlanded with flowers?
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C01%5C06%5Cstory_6-1-2012_pg3_3
BTW, did anyone notice the poll on the LUBP, PTI has 30% votes on staunch PPP website, LOL.
Ouch!
Nadia auntie, do you still honestly (hand on heart) believe that your PPP is the best option to rule the country, despite:
No electricity
No gas
No fuel
The whole country in a mess worse than ever before
Just think, if you can!
Is he corrupt or his personal life in question i dont understand the logic trying dig old graves and posting the news again and again.Another he converted a jew to a muslim his ex-wife please write state the positive and negative facts about the person. Don’t make an “evening special” out of every political figure. Many politicians are womanisers so what we hang them all. Whats the point can he bring a change or not. Bill Clinton was a womanier and there might a lot of ghost in this particular article writer’s closet too. Our objective should be try to save PAKISTAN not he did this he did this wake up PAKISTAN existence is in danger at least some one is talking.
Our beloved president prior assuming power had long earned the title of Mr. 10% and now when unceremoniously abdicates would have adorned 20% plus. At least sharing with coalition partners what has been done with premier institutions like PIA, Railway, Pakistan Steel, Wapda OGDC etc.etc. the figure appears modest. Imran despite carrying no financial scam to as baggage whatever is being said about him relates to his that past which he never denies rather portrays himself repentant and then proudly claims having been guided by God to his ways. We pin hope in him not unconditionally but with expectations of deliverance and if fails have option to throw him in dustbin of history but without trying detesting him is unfair. Should we keep supporting thieves and mafia groups in the name of democracy, those who have made democracy a farce. Dr. Nadia has some personal whims and on that account appears to have faltered.
Indo-Pakistani men do not walk away from their paternal duty such as taking care of your daughters. What am I saying, this idiot is a Punjabi where such obligations simply do not arise.
He can always invoke Islam to get elected,it worked for the biggest crook ZA Bhutto and also for his theiving daughter,why shouldn’t it work for him.
pmln zindabad
Yaar yeh kon log hay who can read and write but they can’t see what noora league and PPP has done to our country. I am shocked to see when some one favors Noon league or PPP. But then some saint made the verb ” Akal Kay Andhay” so these are those people. They don’t have brains or may be no Zameer. Oay Jahilooo apna nahi tu apni anay wali nasloo ka hi soch looo. Do you want Pakistan or not. This PPP and Norra league will kill Pakistan. Think. Learn from past