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Imran Khan under the spotlight
Akbar Jan Marwat
Thursday, May 29, 2014
The PTI rallies of May 11 and May 25 have turned the spotlight on Imran Khan once again. The timings of the rallies – ostensibly held against election rigging – was quite intriguing to say the least. These anti-election rigging rallies were being held exactly one year after the election of 2014, and four years before the next elections; that is if they are held on time. Imran also spoke about election reform and the dissolution of the Election Commission. Now the Election Commission is a constitutional body, and the government has no authority to dissolve its arbitrarily. Imran’s demand of election reforms is a valid one; but the right forum for that would be the National Assembly, where he has a substantial number of legislators.
Many analysts also question his skewed priorities. According to them, the fixing of the broken down law and order in KPK, a province ruled by PTI, should be Imran’s first priority. Not only is Taliban related violence a major menace; but also ordinary crime, especially extortion is rampant, in KPK, which was not the case before. To understand Imran Khan’s brand of Politics a cursory look at his political career would be instructive. Imran Khan is anything but a conventional political leader. His political career started quickly, on the heals of Pakistani cricket team’s win of the 1992 world cup. As a Captain of the winning team, Imran skillfully tapped the Euphoria of the Masses, on winning the world cup; coupled with his own substantial charisma, and gathered billion of Rupees in charity, for, his cancer hospital, named after his mother “Shaukat Khanum’’.
After commissioning of the hospital in a record time, Imran’s reputation as a doer cemented further. Imran was now just one step away from joining politics, a prediction, which he initially denied. Imran’s Charisma; his reputation as a doer; and his integrity were, however, not matched by deep thought, and political vision, which come only after in depth study and observation. A pattern that one has observed in his decision making process is: that Most of his important political decisions are made more on intuition and impulse rather then detailed and objective analysis. As a political leader he has shown the tendency to see things in black and white, avoiding the complexity of the grey shade.
It was around this time that Imran’s spiritual awaking, as a born again Muslim also started. This transformation, as per Imran Khan himself, was also based more upon his interaction with a certain retired WAPDA official; rather than in depth study of religion. This introduction and understanding of Islam, to which Imran was exposed, was mostly in the verbal tradition and not through extensive reading about religion. This understanding of Islam was to persuade Imran to embrace some extreme right wing and reactionary causes in his future politics.
Soon Tehrik-e-Insaf as a political movement was launched. Initially Islamists like Hamid Gul tried to use Imran as a poster boy for their version of Islam. But after seeing Imran,s independence of mind; and his unwillingness to play second fiddle to any one, many initial patrons soon parted ways with him. Some other very senior and balanced intellectuals and former bureaucrats like Abdul Sattar, (former foreign minister) and Dr. Amir Mohammad also joined Imran Khan. Their stay in Imran’s camp also proved to be a brief one, supposedly due to Imran’s lack of flexibility and overbearing style of leadership.
In 1997 general elections Imran could not do well at all, and could not even win a single seat. After Musharraf took over Imran was initially very close to him, and even supported his controversial referendum. Just before the 2002 elections, when the ISI, was cobbling up a Pro Musharraf alliance, Imran Khan refused to be a part of it. Thus in the 2002 elections the PTI again did not do too well and Imran won only his own seat from Mianwali. His critics point out that the break with Musharraf, was over the fact, that Imran was not being made the P.M, as promised earlier. After 2002, elections Imran became part of opposition in the national assembly; and turned all his guns on Musharraf and his supporters. Imran’s PTI along with JI, and some Nationalist parties boycotted the 2008 election; when it was felt, that PTI, was quite ready to do well in the elections. This boycott of the 2008 election seems to be a classical example of instinct taking precedence over reason. From 2008 till 2012, Imran played the role of a very active and dynamic political leader of the opposition, from outside the assembly.
Just before the 2012, general elections the PTI started peaking. Many opposition stalwarts from major political parties joined PTI. It was openly alleged the ex-DG, ISI, General Pasha had a soft corner for PTI. After his retirement these allegations stopped. No doubt people started joining PTI in droves before the 2012 elections; which created a strong hype that PTI was going to sweep the elections. This hype was particularly strong in KPK, and major urban centres of Punjab. Imran’s categorical predictions that PTI was going to sweep the elections like a tsunami also raised expectations among party workers to an unrealistic level. When the PTI did not do as well as it was expected to; the resentment and frustration among PTI workers, reached a crescendo. They felt as if they were cheated of a victory, which was rightfully theirs. The election commission, the interim governments and the judiciary all became suspects in their eyes. Although PTI swept KPK, it could not do as well against the well-funded and much entrenched PML-N in Punjab. PTI did win seats from urban centres, but patronage politics worked against them in the rural areas, where PML-N had presence for the last twenty-five years.
PTI reluctantly accepted the results and formed its government in KPK. It can, of course not be denied that in 2013, election no rigging took place; but the results roughly approximated to the respective strengths of the various parties.
In the KPK, PTI in coalition with Jamat Islami is ruling the province. The government has to a great extent over come corruption in the political domain; and made sure that teachers, patwari’s and doctors regularly attend their jobs, which was not the case before.
The biggest lacuna in Imran’s thinking seems to be his policy about Taliban. The false narrative created by PTI, about Pakistan fighting some body else’s war, is not only incorrect but has led to a lot of demoralization and confusion amongst our youth. Imran’s is sticking to his simple and naive narrative that suicide attacks started only after American drone attacks, while evidence clearly shown otherwise.
Another huge contradiction in PTI seems to be the rainbow coalition of Yuppies and very modern professional men and women on one side; and ex-Jamat –e-Islami workers occupying the second tier of leadership in PTI on the other side. This contradiction is bound to come to a head sooner rather then latter. It seems that the only thing in common among these incompatible groups, is their desire to come to power as quickly as possible.
Insistence on talks with Taliban at any coast seems to be a policy, the PTI, has in common with PML-N. But where as with PTI, it seems to be an ideologist position; in case of PML-N it is based more on pragmatism and personal cowardice of its leadership.
Imran Khan would do well, to improve the situation in KPK, a province in his watch. In fact he had promised to make KPK a model province. He should concentrate on reaching out to people in rural Punjab where his party has only token presence. Similarly if Imran wants to make his party a truly national level party, he has to start working in Sind and Balochistan also, where his presence is almost negligible. In short Imran Khan should start preparing for elections in 2018. Politics of disruption and agitation will not help the political process one bit. Imran should also temper his extreme right wing views, and move more towards the centre of the political spectrum. Imran may be getting advanced in years, but he is still fit, and can afford to wait for the natural term of the present government to end. But having said all that; Imran Khan being Imran Khan, will do what his instincts tell him.
source : Observer
Akbar Jan Marwat
Thursday, May 29, 2014
The PTI rallies of May 11 and May 25 have turned the spotlight on Imran Khan once again. The timings of the rallies – ostensibly held against election rigging – was quite intriguing to say the least. These anti-election rigging rallies were being held exactly one year after the election of 2014, and four years before the next elections; that is if they are held on time. Imran also spoke about election reform and the dissolution of the Election Commission. Now the Election Commission is a constitutional body, and the government has no authority to dissolve its arbitrarily. Imran’s demand of election reforms is a valid one; but the right forum for that would be the National Assembly, where he has a substantial number of legislators.
Many analysts also question his skewed priorities. According to them, the fixing of the broken down law and order in KPK, a province ruled by PTI, should be Imran’s first priority. Not only is Taliban related violence a major menace; but also ordinary crime, especially extortion is rampant, in KPK, which was not the case before. To understand Imran Khan’s brand of Politics a cursory look at his political career would be instructive. Imran Khan is anything but a conventional political leader. His political career started quickly, on the heals of Pakistani cricket team’s win of the 1992 world cup. As a Captain of the winning team, Imran skillfully tapped the Euphoria of the Masses, on winning the world cup; coupled with his own substantial charisma, and gathered billion of Rupees in charity, for, his cancer hospital, named after his mother “Shaukat Khanum’’.
After commissioning of the hospital in a record time, Imran’s reputation as a doer cemented further. Imran was now just one step away from joining politics, a prediction, which he initially denied. Imran’s Charisma; his reputation as a doer; and his integrity were, however, not matched by deep thought, and political vision, which come only after in depth study and observation. A pattern that one has observed in his decision making process is: that Most of his important political decisions are made more on intuition and impulse rather then detailed and objective analysis. As a political leader he has shown the tendency to see things in black and white, avoiding the complexity of the grey shade.
It was around this time that Imran’s spiritual awaking, as a born again Muslim also started. This transformation, as per Imran Khan himself, was also based more upon his interaction with a certain retired WAPDA official; rather than in depth study of religion. This introduction and understanding of Islam, to which Imran was exposed, was mostly in the verbal tradition and not through extensive reading about religion. This understanding of Islam was to persuade Imran to embrace some extreme right wing and reactionary causes in his future politics.
Soon Tehrik-e-Insaf as a political movement was launched. Initially Islamists like Hamid Gul tried to use Imran as a poster boy for their version of Islam. But after seeing Imran,s independence of mind; and his unwillingness to play second fiddle to any one, many initial patrons soon parted ways with him. Some other very senior and balanced intellectuals and former bureaucrats like Abdul Sattar, (former foreign minister) and Dr. Amir Mohammad also joined Imran Khan. Their stay in Imran’s camp also proved to be a brief one, supposedly due to Imran’s lack of flexibility and overbearing style of leadership.
In 1997 general elections Imran could not do well at all, and could not even win a single seat. After Musharraf took over Imran was initially very close to him, and even supported his controversial referendum. Just before the 2002 elections, when the ISI, was cobbling up a Pro Musharraf alliance, Imran Khan refused to be a part of it. Thus in the 2002 elections the PTI again did not do too well and Imran won only his own seat from Mianwali. His critics point out that the break with Musharraf, was over the fact, that Imran was not being made the P.M, as promised earlier. After 2002, elections Imran became part of opposition in the national assembly; and turned all his guns on Musharraf and his supporters. Imran’s PTI along with JI, and some Nationalist parties boycotted the 2008 election; when it was felt, that PTI, was quite ready to do well in the elections. This boycott of the 2008 election seems to be a classical example of instinct taking precedence over reason. From 2008 till 2012, Imran played the role of a very active and dynamic political leader of the opposition, from outside the assembly.
Just before the 2012, general elections the PTI started peaking. Many opposition stalwarts from major political parties joined PTI. It was openly alleged the ex-DG, ISI, General Pasha had a soft corner for PTI. After his retirement these allegations stopped. No doubt people started joining PTI in droves before the 2012 elections; which created a strong hype that PTI was going to sweep the elections. This hype was particularly strong in KPK, and major urban centres of Punjab. Imran’s categorical predictions that PTI was going to sweep the elections like a tsunami also raised expectations among party workers to an unrealistic level. When the PTI did not do as well as it was expected to; the resentment and frustration among PTI workers, reached a crescendo. They felt as if they were cheated of a victory, which was rightfully theirs. The election commission, the interim governments and the judiciary all became suspects in their eyes. Although PTI swept KPK, it could not do as well against the well-funded and much entrenched PML-N in Punjab. PTI did win seats from urban centres, but patronage politics worked against them in the rural areas, where PML-N had presence for the last twenty-five years.
PTI reluctantly accepted the results and formed its government in KPK. It can, of course not be denied that in 2013, election no rigging took place; but the results roughly approximated to the respective strengths of the various parties.
In the KPK, PTI in coalition with Jamat Islami is ruling the province. The government has to a great extent over come corruption in the political domain; and made sure that teachers, patwari’s and doctors regularly attend their jobs, which was not the case before.
The biggest lacuna in Imran’s thinking seems to be his policy about Taliban. The false narrative created by PTI, about Pakistan fighting some body else’s war, is not only incorrect but has led to a lot of demoralization and confusion amongst our youth. Imran’s is sticking to his simple and naive narrative that suicide attacks started only after American drone attacks, while evidence clearly shown otherwise.
Another huge contradiction in PTI seems to be the rainbow coalition of Yuppies and very modern professional men and women on one side; and ex-Jamat –e-Islami workers occupying the second tier of leadership in PTI on the other side. This contradiction is bound to come to a head sooner rather then latter. It seems that the only thing in common among these incompatible groups, is their desire to come to power as quickly as possible.
Insistence on talks with Taliban at any coast seems to be a policy, the PTI, has in common with PML-N. But where as with PTI, it seems to be an ideologist position; in case of PML-N it is based more on pragmatism and personal cowardice of its leadership.
Imran Khan would do well, to improve the situation in KPK, a province in his watch. In fact he had promised to make KPK a model province. He should concentrate on reaching out to people in rural Punjab where his party has only token presence. Similarly if Imran wants to make his party a truly national level party, he has to start working in Sind and Balochistan also, where his presence is almost negligible. In short Imran Khan should start preparing for elections in 2018. Politics of disruption and agitation will not help the political process one bit. Imran should also temper his extreme right wing views, and move more towards the centre of the political spectrum. Imran may be getting advanced in years, but he is still fit, and can afford to wait for the natural term of the present government to end. But having said all that; Imran Khan being Imran Khan, will do what his instincts tell him.
source : Observer
