Imran Khan’s band of merry men
How can any sane person even think that Imran Khan should be the prime minister?
These days, the latest ‘it’ crowd in Pakistan are the Immy K revolutionaries. For those of you who do not know, these are pseudo-intellectuals who think they can help Imran Khan bring about an inqilaab (revolution) which will lead to khudmukhtaari (autonomy) and freedom from the West, just by standing on a road for a few hours, or even better, by liking a page on Facebook. I hate to break it to all who belong to this crowd, but quite frankly, you all are deluded.
Before I go further, I must admit that I have a huge amount of respect for Imran Khan as a cricketer and a philanthropist. But — how can any sane person think that Imran Khan should be the prime minister?
Now I hate our current government and the ones which preceded it, but I am sure there must be some better alternative than to get behind Imran Khan. He is yet to hold any position of notable power and his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is a joke.
Fifteen years and not more than one seat in the parliament and somehow people actually think that he will be successful in the elections?
According to Mr Khan, the United States of America (USA) is the root of all our problems and if we get rid of its interference, we can get rid of the vices in our society. I am sorry to say this, but Imran Khan is living in denial. It is said that:
Kisi aur ko kuch kehne se pehle apne girebaan mein jhaanko
(Before blaming anyone else, take a look at yourself).
The US may be responsible for some of our problems but the truth is that the responsibility for Pakistan’s stagnation lies with its own people.
Have you ever considered that after Pakistan’s formation, it was our very own government which ignored the Soviet Union’s extended hand, just so they could strengthen ties with the US?
Or, that it was our own army and intelligence agency which helped create the Taliban who are now a cancer which we can’t eliminate?
Or, what would we be doing without the US’s financial and military aid?
Besides, you cannot blame a foreign power for all the corruption, nepotism, crime and other atrocities taking place in our society.
Mr Khan may complain all he wants about the drone attacks, but who are we to stop them if we aren’t even competent enough to eliminate extremists ourselves, as shown by the fact that we couldn’t catch the world’s most wanted man even though he was living less than a mile away from our army academy.
The PTI also protested vehemently for the release of Aafia Siddiqui who, by many accounts, was indeed a terrorist. But no reaction came from Khan when Mukhtaran Mai’s rapists were released without major punishment.
Also, Mr Khan has claimed that that many of Taliban’s atrocities have been exaggerated and it is the US and our government who are spreading false propaganda. Now, I don’t like either the US or our government but both of them are lesser evils compared to the Taliban.
The funny thing about all this is that people actually believe him. Whether it’s from listening to Zaid Hamid’s conspiracies or from watching propagandist documentaries like The Arrivals, a large section of our youth believes that the whole world is conspiring against innocent Pakistani Muslims who are incapable of hurting a fly.
Mr Khan’s political U-turns are also well documented. From supporting General Musharraf’s military coup to then bashing him, to calling Nawaz Sharif a “fascist” and then joining forces with him to overthrow Musharraf.
I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I urge my fellow Pakistanis to think realistically, for once, about the future of our country and the person they want to bring in power.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The Express Tribune.
The biggest chink and question mark in PTIs armor is his silence on the military role in supporting, facilitating and encouraging drone strikes. Heaping the blame on an impotent government who has little say in defense and foreign affairs is petty populism. When he takes his dharna before abpara or the GHQ…I am sure many more people will follow.Recommend
The burger bacha’s will come in droves now to defend Jimran K.
Agar terrorist mare gain to hum Inqilaab kaise laen ge.Recommend
Whao, where have you been the sane guy?? the entire country had been searching for you, but since you had been hiding yourself, the mislead people could not help but to support imran khan.
Just like you, I too thought the country was filled with the “idiots” who like IK, but naa, Pakistan still cherish having people like you. so,,,, whats the plan now?? since now we have a “real writer” instead of the pseudo writers, will you please guide us towards the RIGHT path, haan?? you may rely upon your sweeping statements all over again, we wont mind. but, ya, i would like to have the answers of some questions or your HUMBLE opinion on some points, will you please find some time out to answer them??
starting from Liaqat Ali Khan preffering USA over USSR, would you mind telling me on what basis you could say that was a wrong decision?? perhaps you are saner than those who had actually been into the situation at that time, Haan?
yaa, loads of that nonsense, Imran supported musharraf and bla bla, but there was a time when even M. Ali Jinnah was a staunch supporter of congress, so he too was wrong?? perhaps you werent there at that time to expose that guy, else we could have avoided the heck of creating this country.
yes, you are right once again, Afia was a terrorist, but had she been an American, she too could have enjoyed the status of being an INNOCENT. you will certainly agree, wont you??
And lastly, about american support, we are totally in favour of its aid, and support, but we dont need money from them, the only thing we request from them is to take the guys like you with them, though we dont have many of them, but still, its better for one to go where from one originally belongs to…Recommend
Oh.. the left Propaganda recipe from Zubeida Tariq’s show:
Thora sa-Look inward- zara se-Mukhtara Mai-adha chmchi-Afia siddiqui-aur haan Zaid hamid kabahi nahi bhulan
Personally I think Marvi Memon said it on Dawn today: those who were not their can only promote disinformation. Which is this blog about. I ask what if american’s started drone attack in suburb of Lahore or Karachi will you then question who are we rubbing shoulders with whether Imran Khan, Sheikh Rasheed or any XYZ will you say I don’t trust him he has U turn record. Or will it be about Pakistan. If anyone thinks we are not at war right now so we can take a side with such n such “Party” not this and this combination its is quite naive.
Any Party raising voice against these drones should be supported as its a national matter. Most of Imran’s Sitting was about the implementing the unanimous resolution passed by the Parliament against drone strikes.Recommend
A nicely written article. True and to the point. Imran’s fallacy can be judged from his stance on the judiciary. With so much hue and cry that went on for restoring the judiciary, all of that has now faded. Imran’s usually assertive manner used to be that a free restored judiciary under CJ Iftikhar Chawdhry will end all evils, and will correct Pakistan on its own accord.What we see now is nothing. The results have been nil.In fact the people alongwith CJ both have forgotten the Sialkot lynching case. So much for judiciary and Imran khan’s stupidity.Recommend
Dear Sabih, you talk if you know it all, yet I can gaurantee you have never voted in your life. People in Pakistan don’t vote or care about it & that is why we end up with corrupt & greedy fuedals & landlord, maybe its a positive thing that PTI doesn’t win the elections, it probably goes to show that they don’t come into the scum category that is “elected” every single time in rigged elections marred by foriegn & political interference. Your statments about his U-turns is totally out of context & senseless….joined forces with Nawz Sharif to overthrow Musharraf?? I think everyone was on the same side, they were all against Musharraf….and his earlier support to Musharraf was because of his promise that he would bring true democracy…which never got fulfilled, infact we got PML (Q), even I made that U-turn from supporting Musharraf to not doing that, but the transition was a gradual realisation for me & a lot of other people. I agree that the real problem is within Pakistan, but I also believe that just as one leader has managed to corrupt & destroy our institutions, one honest & strong willed man can do the opposite, but anyways you can never be sure of anything in life or the future so I have decided to ignore becharey try to be ‘know it all’ people like you & take my chances with Imran.Recommend
It’s funny that you are sure there is a better alternative, yet you give no names or suggestions. Did you write this article to get noticed, well you did succeed in my case plus when you say Immy kay revolutionaries, meray bhai at least they want to do something for their country, you write (Before blaming anyone else, take a look at yourself) & yet you fail to follow what you preach. Like I said Sabih, having thought rationally & considering all options I will take my chances with Imran & continue to ignore directionless people.Recommend
Read, look and think deeper. Learn your history and your politics before you give your opinion. Just saying…Recommend
“I am sure there must be some better alternative than to get behind Imran Khan.” Look who is delusional. since Mr Sabih Masood you have no clue of what you are talking about we opt to support IK better than all current lot of rotten politicians stop bashing him and do something worth while with your time.Recommend
Fayyaz, Congress was a democratic organization. Musharraf was a dictator. So your basic premise is wrong.Recommend
Dear Writer,
I appreciate your opinion about the subject matter. However, I feel you have made some fundamental errors in your analysis.
First, you say that nothing will happen by ‘just by standing on the road for a few hours’ … You basically meant that standing up and speaking for what you believe in has no importance? or that it will change nothing? you seriously need to study history. Dont worry lets not go way back in the past. If you read newspapers you would know what is going on in the Middle East from the last 6 months or so. Well I am living in Middle East and one by one i have seen regimes here collapse.. all because some ‘little’ guy out in the street had decided it was enough. And he broke his silence and that resulted in the overthrowing of decade long regimes. That moment of magic that it takes someone to step up.. is what i believe Imran Khan is all about.
Plus I am sure when this thing starts gaining momentum, you will definility like to jump in the band wagon. As like in the report, you have clearly stated that you dont like any current governments or the past. So basically ppl like you just wait and see what happens. How weak and afraid must you be? Poor Soul. Listen young one, People who have the courage to speak dont care where they are, who are with them or who they are up against.
Second, you say: what would we be doing without US Financial and Military Aid? Again, my child, you are just afraid. Let go of this fear and open your eyes. Look around you. Do you know what Wikipedia says about Third World Countries? It says that the only thing common to ALL so called third world country is that their governments keep asking for AID!!!
Look to Africa. how many Billions of Dollars have been thrown at it as AID. and not only from US. From all over the world. What has changed in Africa?? they are well off now? are the self sustaining?
Simple Logic: Would you give a man fish to eat everday or will you teach him how to fish?
I think you understand now.. ? No?
In any case let me inform you that even billions of dollars of Aid hasnt gotten us anywhere,,, no electricity, no water no gas. Hell we havent been even able to eradicate Polio from our country yet. (Only 4 countries of the world are remaining)
Third, are you really sure Dr. Aafia Sidiqui was a terrorist? Really? I wonder what you saw that made you believe it. Maybe the people who thought there were Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq showed you some evidence? Im sure if u have so much belief in this, you must be agreeing that the ppl who are killed in drone attacks are really extremists.. just like those people on which US threw Chemical Weapons at in Vietnam. (You really need to brush up your American history for believing whatever they say. There are pictures of little viatnamese girls all burnt with acid and agent x)
Fourth, you talk about ‘catching’ extremists.. Dear me, you have really no clue what you are talking about right? I mean you actually used the word ‘Catch’. Do you think these people have on thier foreheads written EXTREMIST? okayy now il will tell you what its like on ground. Imagine you for some reason were born in waziristan. You see bombs fall out of the sky and kill your parents. (God Forbid) What would you do when you grow up? Yes. you guessed right. you will avenge. any normal person would. so you will be a terrorist? and will we ‘catch’ you? no, you are only human and how you react is human nature. We, being the educated learned lot have to stop this bloody vicious circle. and that is why this war will stop, when we get out of it.
I really can go on and on. I wanted to write about more fundamental mistakes in your report, but i think it will require me to write my own article.
Warm Regards.Recommend
Dear Sabih,
You made the most pathetic arguments against Imran Khan and PTI. Its very obvious that you dont follow PTI and imran khan’s interviews and were looking for some facebook popularity with this blog.
On not getting any success on afia and mukhtara mai, i think you just overlooked the fact that imran khan is not even in the parliament. His job is to protest for the cause, which he and his party continues to do till date.
Did you as a blogger ever write on either of the two ladies or attend a protest for their cause? Guess what i just attended the dharna and i am not even a member of PTI.
Who is the pseudo intellectual now Sabih? the blogger or the reader?Recommend
Pathetic article, and mind you Afia Siddiqui did’nt fire a bullet and yet she is terrorist…. go get some restRecommend
I dont know who has written this article. To be Frank after reading 5 paragraphs I didn’t really care.
I don’t think you have heard his policies or maybe you don’t understand the world politics.
Or you might simply be one of those people who believes the western media religiously.
I agree with most of Imran Khan’s policies. They make secnce, show dignity and positively aggressive for Pak
To be honest I sometimes think that the stupid people of Pakistan don’t deserve to have him as their leader and you too are one of them
You lot deserve Iltaf Hussain, Zardari, Gilani, Shariff bros and rehman Malik
I would strongly advise you to stop writing articles and stick to watching Indian and western cable channels.
Only in Pak such a ignorant article would be published like this.
if Pakistanis want sir Imran to lead them out of this mess, you better fix upRecommend
This may indicate who’s secret service is promoting and sponsering the attacks in Pak
http://www.todaysviews.com/?p=1296Recommend
Okay lets say Imran is not the leader we need then please tell us whom we should follow and whom we should vote into power in next election?
The biggest problem with Imran’s critics is that they always tell you what not to do ( Do not follow/vote Imran) but never tell us what to do!!!!
We have plenty of such armchair intellectuals but I think our youth and nation in general is much much wiser now…….Recommend
wow this is epic.. you actually make sense.. After all PTI is a joke because it offered invitation from musharaf to come into coalition and Imran Khan rejected to be the PM, Imran Khan is insane because he thinks that Pakistan can ever be dependent and sovereign and ya Dr Affia was indeed a terrorist, she decided to take her children to afghanistan and is so strong she overpowered 3 US soldiers and almost killed them..
Further ur so right that all his supporters are not traditional illiterate party workers who would support any decision to get daal chawal after jalsa, but are staunch party workers and literate patriots.. After all how can pak prosper if educated people get involved in politics . Our fate should be decided by illiterate majority and if u really think that there is a better option u should ve been kind enough to name him.
Dont make a jok out of yourself by making this propaganda, u may be the only sane person alive but you dont know anything about the country’s problems..Recommend
I am surprised why tribune published this..Dont you have some standard or something..?Recommend
@Fayyaz:
thanku very much!!!Recommend
Poorly written and prejudiced to say the least. You have (somehow) formed an opinion about Imran Khan and now want to justify it in any way possible. I can list out your points and rip them apart but I’ll be wasting my time. I know what’s really bugging you so will explain that point.
Imran’s policy on the “War on terror” is to evolve a home-grown solution. This means distancing yourself from the label of being an American agent and stop getting measly sums of aid in return for your services. And then give a political settlement a chance. Your tribal people have remained with you all these years. They will understand. They will hand you over the real terrorists themselves and they were about to in 2004 when General Orakzai went in to negotiate. But American pressure coupled with drone strikes thwarted any further effort. You have to stop killing them in the guise of “collateral damage” and in the process pushing them to the Taliban’s side. You have to win them over.
You call his supporters “pseudo-intellectuals.” I call people like you “pseudo liberals.” The real liberals will NEVER accept an injustice such as the drone strikes and aerial bombardment of civilian areas. They’ll also accept that conflicts need to be resolved not through military means but by a human society coming together. This is the crux of Imran’s policy, only if you think rationally and not through the glasses of “facts” fed to you by the Americans.Recommend
Mr. Sabih Masood!!
When it comes to Imran Khan’s statements about United States of America, then they can easily be verified and fortified based on USA’s history of aggressive actions and human rights violations worldwide. Why should be trust a nation such as U.S. who has got his hands tainted with blood of 100s of thousands perhaps millions of innocent human beings. What about Vietnam,Cambodia,Afghanistan,Iraq and don’t know where else?? Can’t you simply look at the fact that Americans are the biggest criminals and murderers in the present day world.
If you wanna know why there’s so much hatred and extremism in Pakistan and different other Muslim nations, then please watch the following clip from an Indian movie. I haven’t watched the complete movie yet. But to tell you the truth, I have got a great respect for Vivek Oberoi as well apart from SRK and Salman Khan, after watching the clip. Here, Vivek has clearly explained the real fascist face of Western powers…..and the reason why terrorists and militants are born. Hope now someone will realize that why many youngsters in Pakistan and different other nations choose the path of terrorism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-LhnzszFOw&NR=1
Thank youRecommend
I would like to report an illegitimate use of government of Singh’s vehicle.
As a model citizen I consider it my responsibility to report any crime or abuse on the behalf of law abiding citizens.
I would like to report an illegitimate use of government of Singh’s vehicle.
This particular vehicle has been assigned to Mr Shahzar Shamoon, (Secretary Land Utilization Department) government of Sindh. Instead of being in official use of the officer the vehicle in question is used by a restaurant manager, owned by Mr Shamoon in by the name of “food point” at 24th street in DHA Pase II.
This vehicle is a Toyota 4X4 double cabin with a blue registration plate, GS 5083
I would report this abuse to every forum where it can be highlighted and appropriate action can be emphasized.Recommend
AAH! what to say. I think i will just appreciate the spot on reply by Fayyaz. What an answer dear, you have hardly left anything to say further. I wouldn’t comment any further because i do not want to lose my tempor with retarded brains who think they are smart.
And Mr hamza ali khan! just to correct your knowledge, IK is still with the judiciary and judiciary per se is doing the best it can, keeping in view you guys have chosen people like zardari, babar awan and firdous awan to create hurdles for judiciary. Today if kazmi is behind the bars, its because of judiciary. if Monis is being asked about his theft, its down to judiciary. and all the other mega scams in which billions of rupees have been returned to the tax payers kitty, and dnt forget that judicary needs other institutions like FIA, Police, beurocracy, etc for its function, and unfortunately all these institutions are under people like rehman malik and babar awan. so dnt be short sighted, and do appreciate the right things.Recommend
He is working on behest of ISI to pressure US. He cries alot but doesnt offer an alternative. PM Imran Khan is possible if ISI supports him and if that is how he intends to come then he is no less and evil.Recommend
Imran the Real Leader of All Muslim World…he is the Only HOPE of Pakistan..Recommend
Pakistanis do not need Imran Khan or any other Messiah; Messiahs don’t exist and have never existed. I agree with the writer’s thesis (and he seems well versed in the country’s history and the roots its sociopolitical crises) except that in a country where absolute non entities were made into Prime Ministers overnight including Moin Qureshi whom no one knew till he actually took over the job. The fact of the matter is that it has been a garrison state in the old Prussian style and remains so to date where only military establishment calls the shots; the rest is sideshow. And as this institution begins to crumble in the face of growing pressures and challenges, so does the country and its people it has held hostage all this time. The opposite however is also true; it would be hard to imagine Pakistan survive without a powerful military in control. It’s a catch-22 that has existed since the country was formed and carved out by the British in haste to leave in 1947.Recommend
no one destibalise pakistan the realty we understood the people who hid in pak in safe for longtime and the destiblise nighbers and all over world.please imran stop this darama
and come gentle every one help you. if afghan dei every day no mater only you safe captureing the afghanistan and other world this in justice .please i request for you first homemad enamis you accept this real issue for you and for every body in the world.
the pak taliban think we go to capture other country why should not control own contory
good or bad people of pakistan will understand later.Recommend
imran khan is leading our people astray,he’s diverting attention away from the islamic fundamentalists killing us.He keeps on crying about drones this & drones that,well the drones are a blessing from allah,they are doing the good work which our own government is too scared to do,it’s taking care of the religious terrorirsts who want to impose their twisted,misogynistic,homophobic,bigoted & sick religious beliefs on us.
these drones kill terrorists,if the terrorists keep their women & children with them as human shields while they continue to plan terrorist attacks against us then these fundoos deserve to get taken out by the drones.When will taliban khan protest against the violation of our sovereingnty by thousands of arabas,iranians,chechens & afghans????
why is our salmiat only threatened by non-muslim invaders???Recommend
Just wait till the next elections; these revolutionaries would be found blaming the masses, who haven’t voted for Imran, for their illiteracy. Whenever PTI loses an election, its members claim that the people don’t “deserve” Imran! With such condescending behavior towards the masses, then can’t win the elections.
And can anyone tell me where are those 500,000 strategic assets which were operating in Pakistan before 911? Hamid gul, his mentor, can answer that as he was among those “strategists” who came up with the idea of conquering Afghanistan and Central Asia using terrorists groups.Recommend
I am not even going to waste more than 1 line on you. Look in the mirror before critcisizing someone who stands up for himself and the nation. Shame on you and I pity you…Recommend
Express Tribune is in danger of losing its credibility with such immature and incoherent literary diarrhea. My advice to the author is to wait till you take the training wheels of your cycle and then do a 360 analysis of Imran Khan’s politics.
Regards,
Saad A KhanRecommend
you are basically saying USA is always right we cannot blame them and we are always wrong It is right to self analyse but self blaming is a curse May god some sense into the senseless poodles of the westRecommend
US is one of the lesser evil. Man! you got to be kidding me. US has been behind bringing destrcution to Iraq on the basis of weapons of mass destruction that were never found, and later vehemently denied of them even being there in the first place. That denial came from none other than our very own lesser-of-the-two-evils US politicians. This is what they do. They claim that a XYZ exist in a country, attack it and then forget all about the XYZ altogether. Coming back to Taliban, don’t you think they could not have survived without stragtegic support from big guns? Talibans were bought together courtesy American aid.
In the recent attack on our army base, don’t you to think it is bit mind boggling to believe that talibans would have planned this attack in a house much alike where Osama was residing? James Bond toh nai hai na woh. The culprits were well-trained, and had a complete know-how of the place. Now either Talibans have got their own satellites, and the attack was not planned by them.
As long as, we will allow US to attack us (killing many innocent people), we will actually be providing terrrorist their text-books material. We are as much responsible for what is happening in our country as we do not even know how to stand up for ourselves. We are a poor nation with lifestyles of the richest. Turning down American aid would take a lot away from our lifestyles. Therefore, how can we ever do that?
Imran Khan has done something that can never be paralleled. He built a hospital where poor and rich are treated the same. I suggest you to step out of our air-conditioned car, and visit a public hospital. Constrast it with what you will see in SKMH. You will be amazed to say the least. He promised and he delivered. At least, in that, he is better than most of us. Therefore, we as a nation has every right to believe that if he comes to power, then he will do some good to the nation.
Moreover, it is high time we got over that burger bacha. That joke has gone bad now. At least, he was out there doing something as we sat in our houses waiting for something to come our that couldbe laughed at!!!Recommend
Very well written & intelligent piece. Really enjoyed reading it. BTW aren’t we forgetting Imran Khan the hypocrite, a small example: Remember when he married Jemima, I remember him saying that she had converted to a Muslim & changed her name to Hiaqqa Khan……
Whatever happened to that, see we Pakistani’s suffer from both Short & Long Term memory loss.Recommend
Our worst trait as a nation is personality worship.We had worshiped enough of these political personalities.What we need to worship is systems,because humans are mortals,systems are not.none of the politician is interested in improving the system of governance.Even in this age of comparatively free media they still believe in personal glorification.
Imran khan logic of killing innocent pakistani in response to drone attacks is incomprehensible.He understand that this govt,is too weak that it cannot stop drone attacks,let us exploit this issue for political point scoring.Recommend
Dear Tribune… it is beyond me how an immature column such as this manages to get published. May I please I request you to screen articles before publishing. I love reading your newspaper, but columns such as these really should be on YoungWorld.Recommend
well i hate Imran Khan politician to the core but i feel better articles have been written on his political philosophy and tactics…this was a bit immature i thinkRecommend
virtually Immature content.Recommend
The read shows the weak approach of the writer on the real notions of pakistans ground realities. Many points came out as judgmental and should be reprived.
Although i am not a supportter of Imran khan as a politician, but still this dharna should have been manipulated in a wiser tone, as it contained many points for the juice of criticism.
would ask the editor to look for some sound consolidated writers to fire up the blog and abhore letting off go such ill written articles.
It is detoriorating the standards of your paper, sir.Recommend
Pakistanis,
Please fix up
Pakistan needs a revolution
Sir Imran we are all with youRecommend
World Cup
Shoukat Khanam Hospital
Chancellor of Bradford University, UK
NAMAL College
I think its enough to judge a credibility of IK kid!Recommend
@Sahrish:
Can you tell what are his plans for the country? He has highlighted the ills but hasnt given the remedy for the ills. It is easy to defeat a team on one to one or build a hospital when you run it but when you run a country you have to balance conflicting interests and demands to ensure the best path it is not 1+1 = 2… it is easy to pin point while out of government it is difficult to runRecommend
I have to say I am sick and tired of all these drawing room political analysts like the writer of this article. As usual and as it happens with most of the pieces you have failed to provide a solution. Name ONE good alternative in this country, Oh I know let me help you out with it, How about the hypocritical religious parties ? no wait how about the ethnic terrorists outfits that call themselves political parties and have gang overs every day in the streets of Karachi ? How about these wadera parties who’ve gotten the leadership of their party based on a will that never existed or How about the Punjab alliance parties ? I think these are good alternatives, no ? Or how about Mr. Musharaf who sold Pakistan ? I have nothing against the writer but I tired of today’s so called educated youth which is deep in slumber ! Wake up and smell the gun powder you are at war right now because you were sleeping !Recommend
It is my wish that Imran Khan is made the PM so this myth comes to an end once and for all.Recommend
@author, I thinks its your who is being intolerant and hyper here. So what if people like Imran khan? It doesn’t mean they are ignorant or donot know about the “million dollars revelations” you did the favor of ‘disclosing’. I for one dont like Imran khan and am a critique of his politics but that doesnt mean i go about labeling his followers “deluded” or better say retarded as your tone suggests. Despite his ills, there are many reasons for imran khan to be liked and hailed as an inspiration for many. funny how people delude themselves into considering a political guru.Recommend
The blog is a view point of a young Pakistani…. and young pakistani form majority of the nation… you have the right to criticize and he has the right to publish. Alot of statement in form of response are not worthy to be published but they do get published and so should his blog. It would be good to be positive in criticizing and keeping a respectable tone.
Sabih keep writing….. WELL DONE!Recommend
@TightDhoti: Unfortunately we as a nation have lost the plot. What Imran khan says is true but he as a single entity has no enough substance to make a change happen. Believe me when i say that Pakistan will change but it will take long time. Look at Col Gaddafi 40 years and likes of Hussn e Mubarak..even more years…Nothing happens overnight…Change is due…We have been in existence for over 60 years and we have only gone one way..that is downwards why because of corrupt ploticians which propmted army to take over to atleast keep country safe…But lately Army have taken some wrong steps for which we are suffering…Trouble is when army lets politicians take over, they make a bigger mess…Perfect example Musharaf’s 1st 3 years better than any other era!!! When he brought all these old ppl back carnage started again…so Imran is right in what he says but he himself doesnot offer effective alternative….Recommend
writer…what ever you say….a huge number of people follow him.
and when it comes to voting.then people like you never vote coz you think that it is very irrespectable for you.and those who votes…they are the people who think that their hero is imran khan but they always give their votes to people like nawaz and zardari.
ye wo qoam hai jin ka hero to imran khan hai lakin vote hamesha inho ne jamshed dasti ko hi dena hai.Recommend
Just to be clear. I do not support the drone attacks. I just believe we are in no situation to stop them if we cannot control the extremist elements which exist in our country.
And secondly, Imran Khan and PTI may protest all they want about USA and NATO, but please first stand up against the social injustices in our society.
Thirdly, do you guys really believe if the drone attacks stop, the Taliban will just stop their assault against us? Their were suicide bombings in Pakistan before 9/11 as well in case you don’t know.Recommend
Great article. Imran Khan is playing as USA and ISI says him to do so. but unfortunately our innocent citizens are overwhelmed in his speeches and his individual personality….Recommend
Absolutely pathetic article. pointless. waste of everyone’s time. A big salute though to those who chose to spend their precious time responding to this crap.Recommend
seemingly immature content without basic knowledge. my request for those who belongs to such idea please we have tried every single one out there and it was always useless so we should give a chance to change.Recommend
@Fayyaz: Your argument is completely flawed. You are contradicting your own leader. Imran Khan wants nothing to do with US aid and support. Get your facts straight.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/167185/reject-us-aid-says-imran-khan/Recommend
Tribune is officially anti Imran Khan.Recommend
On live TV Hamid Mir asked Imran Khan a loaded question. If you were not in politics would you still live in Pakistan ?
Imran Khan answered absolutely not, I am here only to try and do something for my country blah,blah.
Such mistakes are unpardonable. The glint in Hamid Mir’s eye was unmistakable and he made the Khan repeat his error.Recommend
@the blogger
whenever Imran Khan criticizes the government’s policies first and US’s later???
@Fayyaz:
That’s brilliant…Recommend
I just have one question for the author.
Who do you recommend SHOULD be the prime minister of Pakistan? Go on, take a name. I’d like to see what ‘sane’ person you come up with.
Imran Khan may not be perfect and we all know he has flaws, but he is a million times more sincere and about 12 billion times less corrupt than our current choice as well as the alternatives. Fact.Recommend
If you’re gonna hate on the burger babies, you’re gonna have to write a better piece than that i’m afraid. All you say is we’re wrong. Not HOW.Recommend
Mr Khan may complain all he wants about the drone attacks, but who are we to stop them if we aren’t even competent enough to eliminate extremists ourselves, as shown by the fact that we couldn’t catch the world’s most wanted man even though he was living less than a mile away from our army academy.
What a crappy argument…Whose fault was that again??? Imran Khan’s???
Sorry, I didn’t know that…So, yes, I agree, kill two terrorists along with two hundred innocent civilians, we don’t mind at all…And while we’re at it, kill terrorist not only in Waziristan but also kill them in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, again along with innocent civilians…At least US has my permission for carrying out drone attacks in these regions…Plus, yesterday someone in my street was recovered with his ears, lips, tongue, nose cut, yes, I too blame Imran Khan for that. How dare he not carry out a Dharna for it???
If my supporting Imran Khan means, I’m standing up for a failed cause, then I don’t mind being a loser…Recommend
didn’t go to the dharna. though i endorse it but somehow don’t find philosophical alignment with Imran Khan. Sir, i listened to ur speech & in my humble opinion, u won’t win by hating everyone else. if u are great, others too have some goodness & greenness. i wish u had talked about anyone other than you who’s done some good. u didn’t. u never do. nevertheless, u are one admirable (girls read it desirable :p) man. -Umair JaliawalaRecommend
Best. Article. Ever.
Sabih, I’m glad someone still has a brain in Pakistan! :) Please continue writing!Recommend
@Sabih Masood:
Boy, once again a sweeping statement from you, insisting that my stance was flawed. But on what grounds?, you didnt mention that. Yes, imran khan is against the so called AID from the US, and so are most of the pakistanis, but whats bad in it?? I am an economist by profession and i very well know the potential of this country, only if we get rid of this corruption menace, which i am sure imran khan can and will, and can bring our elite in the tax net, along with a couple of other necessary arrangements, we can produce sufficient money to fulfill our needs.
Having said that, i would also like to know that what on earth make you believe that we cannot survive without the peanuts given by the US? Egypt had been getting 20 times more aid from US and the Europe than us, what is changed over there? finally, the common people had to take everything in their own hands in the country. the same will happen in Pakistan.
nevertheless, i agree IK is not an angel, he is a human being and humans are bound to make errors, but one thing i am sure about him is that he is honest and loyal to this country, and if one or the other approach of his to bring peace and financial stability in this country wouldnt work, he will certainly mend his ways to opt for a better option.
By misinterpreting some of the statements given by Imran Khan, you can surely cough up your venom, but you must not forget that people have their own sense of judgment, and they are better capable of differentiating between the “pseudo intellectuals” and the real ones.Recommend
Of course no sane person can. You have to be crazy, and not just any crazy, you have to be a very special kind of a crazy-head to believe in a better future!Recommend
LOL, I loved the comments, more than the article itself. I was expecting the pro-imran, jeans clad, women like bob cut revolutionaries to come up with the most immature defence and here they come :P
Go Go Go!
btw, the biggest U-Turn for PTI is still yet to come – Imran Khan totally bashed MQM and the Karachiites supporting MQM and believe me he is about to shake hands with them. Uh, don’t say for the betterment, its only for power and existance. Every human has the right to do so..Recommend
Dear Sabih Masood,
After reading your nonsense article, I am laughing and I am also very angry at the same time. I totally agree with you saying that not all of our problems are because of American involvement but also because of our own mistakes, mistakes like you.
My friend it is the most easy job to criticize anyone but when Imran Khan and his followers were on the streets protesting about killing of our citizens and humiliation faced by our country because of our so called leaders and of our sovereignty by US, people like you were sitting either at home or were flocking to cinemas for some new released movie. You talk about Taliban and terrorism and I agree that they have become a problem in our country and I think you should also know that how we reached this point?. Who created these monsters and who is backing them up? do some research about that as well.
You talk about Imran Khan not having any representation or having any followers, you should have come and see how many people turned up and came on the street and protested for drone strikes. Not only PTI followers were there but most of the political parties were present there and were supporting Imran Khan.
You talk about Aafia Siddiqui and you some how know for sure that she was a terrorist (I dont know if you belong to some intelligence group of something, that you came to such a conclusion so easily) but even if she was a terrorist, why was she handed over to a foreign power. A terrorist or no terrorist she can be put on trial in Pakistan as well and if proven guilty, can be punished here as well. Imagine how would you feel if you sister or mother was handed over to a foreign country was kept in detention for years, raped and humiliated for years without trial.
You talk about Pakistanis being responsible for such a state of Pakistan, I agree, we are all to blame but people like you are more to blame than other. When all you do is write pathetic article, throwing dirt on anyone doing anything for the betterment of this country. My friend you are delusional and you are the problem with our society, you and you pathetic ideas.
I am sure when you were busy trying to bring up pathetic, nonsense arguments about Imran Khan you some how forgot about Raymond Davis and his act of terrorism in Pakistan. He was not a Pakistani! was he? After that incident, even the most delusional citizen saw clearly who is responsible for this state of our country. Yes have problem in this country like any other country but we are also capable of resolving them without foreign dictation.
I urge you again to open your mind and your eyes and see what is really happening. I would like you to meet with those kids that have lost their limbs and arms in drone strikes.. Put yourself in their place and see how you feel. Sitting behind a computer screen and talking nonsense is the easiest thing people like you can do…Recommend
@Sabih Masood:
please first stand up against the social injustices in our society
Running for the hills are you now.?? Hope you had written your first blog about that….which could be published of course but looks like you decide to be “Ann Coulter” for Imran khan’s stance.Recommend
These Burger mummy daay A O level kids have no right to blame Pakistan only credible leader. I wonder Sabih must be the kid of some PPP dirty politician because all the stale arguments in this article are often used by PPP dirty class of people.Recommend
Please enlighten us to who we should look up to for a leader. Clearly we don’t want Zardari and Nawaz….who else is left??? If you can can give me a better alternative then I will join you, but as of now, Imran Khan is the only one out there. The writer himself has said “but I am sure there must be some better alternative than to get behind Imran Khan.” Please tell me what this alternative is? What is this alternative? Sit and ponder like little kids and wait for someone else? Re-elect the same peopel from the same parties over and over so they plunder and loot the nation? Who will take this writer seriously when his comments and reasonings have no solid grounds and who himself is detached from the reality of the situation?Recommend
my dear friend can you please tell me if IMRAN KHAN is not in your good list of politicians then what choice do you have…? Do you have any other better candidate than imran khan in the present situation….?Recommend
Sorry for the lengthy comment, if any of you read it fully please recommend it.
Lets understand revolutions first:
Revolutions are often violent.
Revolutions don’t need leaders, in fact leaders are born during the revolutions.
Poor people bring revolution not the rich ones, not the educated ones, nor the intellectuals. So the young boys from Korangi, Orangi, Ranchore lane and Liyari are more likely to start it.
Security forces must act against revolutionaries in order to control and defuse it which often ignites it further.
Now lets have a look at ImmyK’s revolutionaries.
They can’t take violence and engage in violent street combats, because they do not understand how it is to live without a job, regular meals, electricity and any venue for self expression.
Imran Khan is not a great leader because if he is then he can not bring the revolution. In fact lack of leadership is a main cause of revolutions and it often erases the existing wanna be leaders and produces new leaders.
Security forces support ImmyK fully on the scene, behind the scenes and are trying to nurture him as an alternate to Nawaz Sharif.
Also the mummy daddy kids have no ideology they are neither liberal nor conservative, they have no understanding of human rights, pursuit of happiness, living standards. They just want to have an ideology that could give them an identity among the nations. Well my friends you do have an identity and it is that you are a citizen of a third world country with no access healthy food and clean water. If you can’t relate to that identity, then I am sorry you are just wasting your time on the streets with Imran Khan. Perhaps you should hangout at area 51 or watch a movie at the new Atrium.
In the end, I would like to argue that who has decided that there must be a revolution in Pakistan? May be it is not the time, may be we don’t even need one? Or may be we just need a dramatic change in other social sectors. Why the change must begin from Prime Minister house? Can’t it begin from primary education system?Recommend
@Sabih Masood:
You dont need to justify to anyone what you feel and believe. Its your right. We are an intolerant nation…Recommend
@Atif:
I am 39 years old… I had my schooling in St. Patricks, did engineering from NED, MBA from UK and doing PhD from UK… I would be ready to discuss factual without any emotions any problem in Pakistan and prove IK cant help you.Recommend
I have just one question for the PTI fans here.. Why doesnt Imran Khan hold protests for the thousands killed in terrorist attacks by the Taliban? Or is their blood worth less because they were killed by fellow ‘Muslims’?
When will this party stop supporting these terrorists??Recommend
Fayyaz: Did you even read the article? Imran Khan clearly refused US aid. Deny it all you want.
Ahmed Ilyas: Okay so now I am a bigger problem than the people in our nation who kill other people, who frequently ALLOW themselves to be sold to other countries for power or money. When is Imran Khan protesting against all the suicide bombings? You should meet people whose loved ones perished in suicide attacks.
What Raymond Davis did was wrong and was rightly condemned. But is that all? Is the issue of US interference in our affairs all there is to worry about? It is a big problem yes, but first, we must sort ourselves out.
One more question. Okay sure, Aafia Siddiqui could have been tried here. But why is it then okay for our own people to kill our women, rape them, throw acid on them?Recommend
I only have one question for the writer…
Can you please give an alternative? Since as you said… you hate this government and the ones preceded it… so that includes of ALL our political parties except PTI…
Care to elaborate on your alternative?
Or do you just utter nonsensical garbage just to get some kind of feedback/reaction?
Ok… sorry… that was more than one question…Recommend
Immature, under-researched, biased and insincere writing by Mr Sabih Masood.
This is the first article of yours that I am reading and unless you develop some substance as a writer, it will be the last.
If you want your readers to take you seriously then stretch your abilities to their limit and then present your case.
Try again.Recommend
CRAP……… not even worth commenting……. but I would like to tell you that atleast read , think and know what you are saying………
Very well said Mr. Aslam………
Dear Tribune… it is beyond me how an immature column such as this manages to get published. May I please I request you to screen articles before publishing. I love reading your newspaper, but columns such as these really should be on YoungWorld.Recommend
IK is being carried by the desparate Jamaat-i-Islami and if he is with them then I dont think there is much more to say on the problem we will face with these people around….Recommend
@Sabih Masood:
Yes, people like you are becoming a serious threat… Taliban and Suicide bombing are big issues and a big problem.. But people like you are also a serious threat in a sense that you spread false information and hopeless ideas. People like you not only do anything positive themselves but also demotivate and bad mouth people who are doing something…
Imran Khan is against drone attack, he is against suicide attack and he is against social injustice.. You just need to read a lot before you start writing such nonsense…
Read all the comments closely and see the reaction…. Instead of spreading your nonsense, start doing something and get your facts and information straight…Recommend
totally wrongRecommend
“When is Imran Khan protesting against all the suicide bombings? You should meet people whose loved ones perished in suicide attacks.”
@Sabih, try asking this question to the people who get killed in drone attacks as “suspected” militants! No one knows their identity, their names, where they came from, or whether they were truly militants or not. No trial, no investigation, no nothing.
If, God forbid, a drone were to bomb your home, what would YOUR reaction be? Wouldn’t you take up arms and avenge the death of your loved ones? Think about that for a second. If you are still not convinced then God help you and those who think like you. Sigh…
p.s: how many protests have YOU led?Recommend
Imran Khan will never be PM of Pakistan…You want to know why??? its because of People like you.People who have decided Pakistan will always be a dump and will apply year after year UK/US visa so they can escape and work in some burger joint for the rest of there lives.People whose dadies are in the army and bureaucracy and have sucked their country dry.People who secretly wish they were born a gora and feel cursed by this green passport & brown skin. IK and his band of merry men scare you because he is honest, a patriot and has done more for this country than all other politicians put to together, also he speaks to the west as an equal and has their grudging Respect. So you cant just write him off as corrupt and a sell out and take comfort in your false self righteousnesses, so you borrow Bush jargon and call him a terorist sympathizer,naive,Taliban.
I think Imran khan is going to recede in the Background His honesty has made him unacceptable to all power brokers in Pakistan.The ppl wont back him as they are so desperate,scared and hungry beaten down that they have lost all there logical faculties. Its for the best for surely if ever he gets close to wining he will be killed, Just like ZAB he will be a “matyr” and then his memory will be sold in empty slogans and corrupted to elect another BB or a Zardari.Recommend
no doubt Imran has had some failings but in comparison to others these failings are minor.
Your article if I may say is nonsense. The bottom line is this (and this is from someone who lives in the west with considerable links to Pakistan) you either put up or shut up..end of story. Im sick of the hand wrining defeatist nonsense being spouted by some. If you dont want change then worry about your day to day problems, because guess what?, without change your problems will remain. Imran offers you a chance, he may yet fail, he may yet not suceed but at least he can say he tried his level best till his dying breath. What have you done for Pakistan? other than moaning? if you want to make a difference get off your behind and do it. otherwise get ready for more politicians who love your attitude!
Living here in the west and going to pakistan too i can see things from both eyes. You will never acheive anything by doing nothing, but you may achieve something by even doing a little! so make your choice, wallow in self destroying cynicism and depression or go out there and join this man and try your best! The world wont wait for you!
It is your duty as a Pakistani to fight for your country because no one else will do it for you! so stop your welf pity and grasp this opportunity before its too late!Recommend
Tell me one person in Pakistan who should be president or prime minister? I find Imran Khan is the only person who has done the most practical work in Pakistan.Recommend
@Siraj Ahsan:
So can you please tell me who can help us? people living abroad like you?Recommend
“I have just one question for the PTI fans here.. Why doesnt Imran Khan hold protests for the thousands killed in terrorist attacks by the Taliban? Or is their blood worth less because they were killed by fellow ‘Muslims’? When will this party stop supporting these terrorists??”
@Hassan: There is a big difference between “supporting terrorism” and “standing up for something that FUELS terrorism”. IK does not support terrorists. His sole argument is that the root cause of this militancy/extremism needs to be tackled. And the only way to do it is by stopping the drones which are killing thousands of innocent people, which ends up fueling extremism even more.
You need to get to the root cause of issues, and that’s what PTI is standing up for. A drone/F-16 dropping bombs from 30,000 feet has no way of distinguishing between a terrorist and a saint, and these suicide attacks are just a reaction to all the innocent people who get killed without even being given a chance to prove themselves innocent. Stop the drones and this slavery to the U.S., and you would cut down these suicide attacks on the common man. The fact that we have had 10 times more suicide/bomb blasts in year 2010 alone than during our entire 60 year history is proof enough that it this failed policy that is causing extremism.Recommend
What a Great article.
Keep it up Sabih and don’t take Imran Khan Brigade assault seriously they are just few people on Social Media and Internet, on ground Imran Khan has no Support except few Hameed Gul minded people.
and keep them laughing they are actually on themselves.Recommend
Commenters, please try to refrain from attacking the author’s age – that is a personal attack and will be deleted according to our comment moderation policy. Best regards (Web Editor)
Recommend
Its obvious what the state of mind is of this author, as his blog says “An A’Levels student who is disillusioned with the world around him.” So that explains his state of being and mind. Everything around him, he is disillusioned with. So we shouldnt be surprised that it’s from that pessimistic state of mind this article came out from. And he is still in A Levels….he has a lot to learn about the real world.
And yes, we are still waiting for the author to give us an answer: who is a better alternative as he suggests? Pathetic article.Recommend
Imran bashing is the favorite subject these days, no wonder these guys will make IK popular. Years of slavery and subservience had made such impact on us that a generation of pseudo-intellectuals have born out of it. No sense of direction but pessimism at its height.
Surely we are a pessimist nation!!!!Recommend
@Siraj Ahsan:
Key point here is that Sabih is a “disillusioned” young Pakistani as his blog claims. Hence he is differentfrom the other young Pakistanis who look up to Imran Khan for hope, for a better Pakistan. :DRecommend
Brother Sabih, you are wasting your time and others by engaging them in this article of yours. The choice has been made, it will be Imran Khan and his party. I’m disappointed that you are thinking like our failed predecessors.Recommend
@hina:
The biggest problem we have is we are too emotional. We don’t accept the reality. It is much better if you accept what is truth and then work around it to make the best for yourself and your country. We don’t want to do our bit but expect a miracle hand to come and fix it.
Take a piece of paper and write down possible scenario of shooting down a drone… and US reaction to it.
You cant deny US influence in Pakistan and you cant deny they have kept you afloat for their own reason. An indebted man can never earn respect by screaming… you have to be more humble and focus on your goal. You have to get best deal for yourself.
You cant fight the world…. You cant behave irresponsibly the way we have been behaving…. We have not really played a true game. India developed despite its politician and that can be true for us also… It is collective effort… stop looking at these detractors and focus your energy to positive use like education, community help. If everyone does their bit you will get the improvement in life without IK.
Everyone me and you all have to do their bit.
He will not be able to deliver even if he wants to because our system is not congenial to any positive change.Recommend
@Mansour Ahsan:
They have the right to idolise anyone but if Sabih doesnt agree it doesnt mean you throw a barrage of indecent assault on the writer. Everyone is free to like or dislike anyone they wantRecommend
@Siraj Ahsan:
No personal grudge Mr. Siraj, simply name the alternative, who else should we be turning to except Imran khan?? any answer???Recommend
Imran Khan – Never lost to the Mighty West Indies – Beat England 1st time away, Beat England Away 1st time, Best all rounder (arguably) of all time (see cricinfo debate!), World cup 1992 captain (highest score in final) 1st time win for Pakistan – SKMC Hospital – Free treatment for People of Pakistan – Namal College affiliated with Bradford college!
Now tell me what has any other politician or person done to bring glory to Pakistan like Imran? Go on name me one?Recommend
@Siraj Ahsan:
Have you boasted of all your degrees?? or still there are some of them you did not mention?? we are also interested in about your early school days, you know, prep, kg, primary etc?? it seems the entire course you have been studying encompassed the ways which proved that only imran cannot solve the problems. go man, study something better.Recommend
Our people deserve only fascists.Recommend
This article is a Joke.. realistically thinking Imran khan has no corruption charges, his income is declared, he proved in his loyalty and sincerity how to serve the nation, he brought us pride, he talk about justice, he is the only honest and sincere person across the board who have capability to deliver, if he is speaking and raise his voice for all those innocent people killed in those drone attacks, which are killed unjustly, he got reward from such columnist by saying ‘sanity’delude…well done wake up you cowards,, at least protest if you find some thing wrong happening in your society….and that what he is doing and we should appreciate instead of criticise,
.Recommend
Is PTI stands for Pakistan Tehreek e Internet?Recommend