Great Expectations
Imran Khan seems to be the flavour of the moment in Pakistan. The question that we need to address is are we expecting too much of him?
History has taught us that politicians in opposition are able to take positions which are impossible when in power. If they are wrong their posturing is forgotten about very quickly because there are no consequences. If they are right their supporters never fail to mention it. In power a mistake is never forgotten as there are always consequences. There may also be institutionalised constraints. Its all very well complaining about for example inflation when in opposition. However when elected the cure for inflation may be the pain to the electorate ie a freeze on public salaries.
When Benazir was elected the first time many had expectations which in due course gave way to disappointment. This is not something which is limited to Pakistan it happens in other countries too. After Bush there were great expectations of Obama not just in America but around the world. A black son of a moslem father with a cosmopolitan non standard american background. Surely Obama would lead to improved relations with the moslem countries etc. After his election victory whilst he was president elect the Israelis bombed Gaza and signed all kinds of deals with the Bush administration in the anticipation that Obamas administration might show a more even hand between the Israelis and Palestinians. Obama won the Noble peace prize very shortly after becoming President. In hind site it would appear he won that not because of any actions that he took but purely on the basis of expectations. However over time we have learned that he is more Bush than Bush. All be it a sophisticated version of Bush. His policies for example with Palestine or Pakistan are more destructive to the same people that had great hopes of him.
Imran Khan has had opportunities before. During Musharaffs rule he could easily have bended to Musharaff and used that five or six years in the same way that Shariff did with Zia or in the way that Bhutto senior did with Ayub and build an effective party machinery which in due course could have challenged for power independently. Was it his conscience that did not allow him to work with Musharaff or was it his naivity. In power at least he could have had some influence on the levers of powers. Either option is worrying. We don't need a naive leader and we don't need a leader that is tied up in principle so much that he cant take advantage of opportunities.
Imran is inexperienced and at time appears naive. Lets face it he is anti American and anti corruption two rallying calls to the people of Pakistan. But which pakistani isnt anti american or anti corruption these days? The masses are on his side on both these issues. People seem to be going towards him by default rather than choice. Pakistan has had two PPP administrations with Benazir at the helm and a third PPP administration with Zardari at the helm all failures. Pakistan has also had its failures with PNA(N) with Shariff at the helm. Both parties although claiming to be democratic are the personal fifedoms of two families and the antithesis of democracy in that they have no internal democracy. Simply Pakistanis don't really have much choice.
In Imran we have an opportunity. There seems to be a suggestion by people opposing Imran that the establishment in the form of the ISI is supportive ofImran. Imran is at great pains to suggest that this is not the case. The writer would suggest that there is absolutely nothing wrong in the establishment in particular ISI and army having some influence on Imran. Why is it wrong that a political leader, other agencies and the public have similar views?
One man no matter how good can only do so much. Imran needs to recruit a good team around him, he needs to create a political machine preferably a democratic political party which elects its leaders through its members. Imran needs to work with the ISI and other agencies for the betterment of Pakistan. In fact I would be happier if Imran was used as figurehead rather than held all the power all by himself.
Lets hope for the best and support him. But lets not have too many expectations.
Imran Khan seems to be the flavour of the moment in Pakistan. The question that we need to address is are we expecting too much of him?
History has taught us that politicians in opposition are able to take positions which are impossible when in power. If they are wrong their posturing is forgotten about very quickly because there are no consequences. If they are right their supporters never fail to mention it. In power a mistake is never forgotten as there are always consequences. There may also be institutionalised constraints. Its all very well complaining about for example inflation when in opposition. However when elected the cure for inflation may be the pain to the electorate ie a freeze on public salaries.
When Benazir was elected the first time many had expectations which in due course gave way to disappointment. This is not something which is limited to Pakistan it happens in other countries too. After Bush there were great expectations of Obama not just in America but around the world. A black son of a moslem father with a cosmopolitan non standard american background. Surely Obama would lead to improved relations with the moslem countries etc. After his election victory whilst he was president elect the Israelis bombed Gaza and signed all kinds of deals with the Bush administration in the anticipation that Obamas administration might show a more even hand between the Israelis and Palestinians. Obama won the Noble peace prize very shortly after becoming President. In hind site it would appear he won that not because of any actions that he took but purely on the basis of expectations. However over time we have learned that he is more Bush than Bush. All be it a sophisticated version of Bush. His policies for example with Palestine or Pakistan are more destructive to the same people that had great hopes of him.
Imran Khan has had opportunities before. During Musharaffs rule he could easily have bended to Musharaff and used that five or six years in the same way that Shariff did with Zia or in the way that Bhutto senior did with Ayub and build an effective party machinery which in due course could have challenged for power independently. Was it his conscience that did not allow him to work with Musharaff or was it his naivity. In power at least he could have had some influence on the levers of powers. Either option is worrying. We don't need a naive leader and we don't need a leader that is tied up in principle so much that he cant take advantage of opportunities.
Imran is inexperienced and at time appears naive. Lets face it he is anti American and anti corruption two rallying calls to the people of Pakistan. But which pakistani isnt anti american or anti corruption these days? The masses are on his side on both these issues. People seem to be going towards him by default rather than choice. Pakistan has had two PPP administrations with Benazir at the helm and a third PPP administration with Zardari at the helm all failures. Pakistan has also had its failures with PNA(N) with Shariff at the helm. Both parties although claiming to be democratic are the personal fifedoms of two families and the antithesis of democracy in that they have no internal democracy. Simply Pakistanis don't really have much choice.
In Imran we have an opportunity. There seems to be a suggestion by people opposing Imran that the establishment in the form of the ISI is supportive ofImran. Imran is at great pains to suggest that this is not the case. The writer would suggest that there is absolutely nothing wrong in the establishment in particular ISI and army having some influence on Imran. Why is it wrong that a political leader, other agencies and the public have similar views?
One man no matter how good can only do so much. Imran needs to recruit a good team around him, he needs to create a political machine preferably a democratic political party which elects its leaders through its members. Imran needs to work with the ISI and other agencies for the betterment of Pakistan. In fact I would be happier if Imran was used as figurehead rather than held all the power all by himself.
Lets hope for the best and support him. But lets not have too many expectations.
Maybe I'll start my own Dickens appreciation thread.
