Why I don't support Imran Khan

Khan's policies of negotiating with the Taliban, alienating US will leave us terrorized and/or on the path of N...

Umer Pirzada November 03, 2011
This is not the way a revolution happens - with unquestioning obedience and a blind following; this is how cults are made. That is exactly what we have happening here, much like the cult following of the Bhuttos, Imran Khan is cultivating the image of a one man show (much like his cricketing years I might add).

How can he stand out from the rest when he follows the same policies? For those that don’t know, the PTI does not hold internal elections, Imran Khan is the president for life and office bearers are appointed.

If we tolerate his pandering now how can we expect him to deliver on his promises in power?

You are empowering him to become a hostage of the 'powers that be' in the future. He has consistently failed to come up with a rational platform of his own, instead he latches onto one issue after the next emulating the Jamaat-e-Islami mullahs in a manner typical of a born again Muslim. This shows a distinct lack of vision which is systemic in our political system, so again how is Imran Khan better or different?

The immediate answer is of course 'corruption’.

I concede, that with the bar this low he can’t be worse, but as for his promises of bringing an end to corruption, just take a look at who he's been bringing in to the party recently. You can ignore the developments if you want, but just consider this scenario:

Let’s assume for a moment that Imran Khan becomes the Prime Minister - the only way he is will get there is by tapping into the rightist conservative vote bank of the PML-N, PML-Q  and JI plus the poor, under-educated masses who also follow the conservative line on 'controversial issues' -- the urban educated middle class simply isn’t enough in numbers. He is beholden to them. Now keep in mind these people have traditionally voted for the opposition parties in the Imran Khan government (PPP, PML-N and PML-Q) so he goes after their members and leaders, they cry politically motivated persecution just as they did under Musharraf and mobilize these same people against him. If you don’t believe me you need to read up on our political history.

At this stage Imran Khan has lost his mandate and is forced to either back down or take the more forceful measures as might befit a dictator. The latter approach seems to suit his character type more. So, Khan is now in a classic catch-22; he alienates people further no matter what. His only option for political survival is to compromise just as General Musharraf had to do.

Now assume that I'm wrong.

Imran Khan manages to deliver in this aspect - how is he going to run the country?

With his foreign policy of alienating the US and negotiating with extremists?
WRITTEN BY:
Umer Pirzada A partner with Pacific Computers Limited who is working for the preservation of human rights with various NGOs
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (197)

Kashif | 12 years ago | Reply There are number of rational issues to consider. I have no issue in him leading the nation, all be it who has ever asked the masses who they want as their leader. Imran is sure to alienate the rural masses of Pakistan as the cricket cult does not feed people. Facebook is not the engine of change in Pakistan, so the real test will come in the village constituency. Is he going to dismantle the entire bureaucratic machinery as he has to get work done through them? If that is the case then good luck to him. Musharraf's experiment of sending young 17 and 18 grade officers abroad for higher degrees backfired when he assumed that that these officers will come back and serve as non-corrupt individuals. Some of them never returned and the majority who did got not only higher salaries but also carried on their corrupt ways denting the country in not one but two ways. The grass root concept of "nationalism" has eroded and the common man does not even stop for the red light in the cosmopolitan cities. Is Imran going to act as a police constable to control the unruly Pakistani mobs on the streets. This is just a small example in the list of so many things. Those of you who want to see nationalism in practice should see Chinese children speaking their language in foreign lands and going back to China to help out in any ways they can. They do not wait for miracles but make things happen. - What is he going to do with tons of government officers who enjoy foreign nationalities and send their kids and black money abroad taking years off to settle in foreign lands and coming back not only to get their promotions but also the arrears in pay. Pakistan for them is a heaven that provides "ghost jobs" as well as foreign passports. Those who do believe should visit some leading foreign cities and see how much property is owned by these Pakistanis in the Condo and real Estate business. And what about those officers who have their businesses in Dubai and they work 2 days in Karachi in Karachi Building Control Authority and then take care of their businesses in Dubai. What a JOKE!! How is Imran Khan going to ensure that he dismantles the gas, water, electriciy mafia in the country. Which foreign people will come and do this. Does he have an army that is going to come and do this at gun point or does he really think he can change this all in 5 years. Those who are comparing him to Bhutto should know that Bhutto's good work fizzled out with him when he was removed from the scene. I Have highlighted only some of the issues facing the country and some commentator is bound to criticize me as being small minded in highlighting these issues. but belive me these are the facts on the ground. -- We should have a rational approach to issues rather than emotional outlooks. After all Cricket is a supposed to be a gentleman's game, I am not too sure about Pakistani politics though.
Pakistani Expat | 12 years ago | Reply I can confidently say that innocent and young jiyalas of PTI will be very disappointed when the cat is out of the bag. Please put your right hand on your heart and ask yourself who are the people jumping the bandwagon of PTI? Are there any criminals, bogus degreeholders, political turncoats in the ranks? If you you swear under oath that there is no criminal, bogus degreeholder, political-turncoat or a lota inducted in PTI's fold then please don't read further! STOP!!! For neutral, impartial and patriotic Pakistanis having the ability to understand this quagmire, please read the following examples to realize this joke being done with Pakistan: On 25th November2011 Imran Khan inducted Sardar Faiz Tamman in his party. FAIZ TAMMAN is the same person who had to resign from National Assembly due to his bogus degree. He was earlier elected from from NA-61 but was thrown out by his party due to fraudster conduct. Can a fraudster ever be honest with the country or its people? During a bye-election in NA-55 on 24th February 2010, Imran Khan's candidate was IJAZ KHAN JAZI. He is known to be a hardened criminal and a notorious gangster running a gambling den. If he ever manages to come to government, he will definitely declare gambling as the national sport of Pakistan! On 5th October 2011, MIAN AZHAR was welcomed in Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf. He is the same person who had served as Governor of Punjab and subsequently an MNA from NA-92. After General Musharraf's coup d'etat he formed PML-Q to prove his loyalty to his new master. However, despite his loyalty, Mian Azhar was kicked out during the election of 2002. This "lota" has got a new lease of life under Captain Imran Khan! On 27th November 2011, ZAFFAR IQBAL WARRAICH joined PTI. He was State Minister in General Musharraf's cabinet and is directly responsible for Lal Masjid massacre: http://www.wluml.org/node/3842 He is also a close relative of Tariq Aziz, the former weeler-dealer and Secretary of dictator General Pervez Musharraf. He desparately needs to stay in a government to avoid accountability! On 27th November 2011, during the same rally in Ghotki, Shah Mehmood Qureshi was formally taken on board by PTI. He is the same person who was alleged to have sold Pakistan's sovereignty for Kerry-Lugar Bill. See how he was praising the Kerry-Lugar Bill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B04pL0A3Lb4&feature=related The reason why Shah Mehmood Qureshi sold Pakistan's sovereignty was because his own son SHAH ZAIN QURESHI was working for US Senator John Kerry: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-10-22/us/280754391pak-minister-shah-mehmood-qureshi-business-card Shah Mehmood Qureshi was serving his US masters till the time he was nominated as Minister for Water & Power, due to which he resigned. http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=tZL_tB7TC88&feature=endscreen If the above real-time examples did not help you in understanding the conspiracy then please browse through the following news items with an open mind: http://tribune.com.pk/story/293375/24-former-pml-q-parliamentarians-nazims-join-pti/ and http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/06/qureshi-imran-pti%e2%80%99s-only-heavyweights.html/comment-page-1#comment-365550 The memory of Pakistani people is not very short: http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=tZL_tB7TC88&feature=endscreen What is the character of these PML-Q leaders and corrupt nazims? Don't they bow with every wind of change? Can they ever bring revolution in this country? Can they stay out of government for long? They simply jump into a party by looking at behind-the-curtain establishment and join every government to protect their past loot. It is now evident that this is another proxy of the establishment after fizzling out of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (remember PAT/Tahir-ul-Qadri was once a darling of the state's official media) and then Pakistan Islamic Front (remember "zalmo Qazi aa raha hai" of 1993) and later the conspiracy to break the rightist votebank became evident to the people. It transpires that Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf is part-3 of the same conspiracy. Wake Up Pakistan! "JAAGO PAKISTANIO JAAGO"
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