ravishingravi Posted July 8, 2012 Posted July 8, 2012 http://dawn.com/2012/07/08/smokers-corner-the-reverse-khan/ Last week when PTI chief, Imran Khan, held a joint press conference with the head of the fundamentalist Jamat-i-Islami (JI) and hinted that his party may get into an electoral alliance with the JI, many frontline PTI enthusiasts on the social media were not impressed. They are at pains to describe the PTI as a ‘genuine liberal party,’ some even argue that it is actually ‘leftist.’ Of course, thus far, PTI has largely come across as being a more animated and youthful version of the conservative PML-N. PTI has tried to mix things up by placing one of its dancing feet in the idealistic potpourri of urban middle-class youth, while attempting to place its other foot in the muddy mush where a number of right-wing Islamist outfits have been rolling for attention. This is the mush where PML-N too has a foothold in. If the JI does get into an alliance with the PTI, it will not be the first time this otherwise elitist Islamic outfit would allow itself to jump into the fry of populist politics. From its controversial involvement in the 1953 anti-Ahmadiya riots in Lahore, to its participation in the raising of violent militant squads by the Pakistan Army against Bengali nationalists in 1971; and from its active role in toppling the Z A. Bhutto regime, to supplying the ideological rationale and manpower to Ziaul Haq’s ‘Islamisation’ project and jihad in Afghanistan, the JI has found itself to be at the centre of a number of controversial episodes that one can’t quite call democratic. But why would Imran Khan who in recent months has been riding a wave of popularity be so willing to ally himself with the JI? Apart from JI’s awkward past, it has never been an electorally strong entity. It has not managed to get more than five per cent of the votes in all the elections that it has taken part in ever since 1970. Its main hurrah in this respect only arrived during the 2002 election when it was just one part of the religious parties’ alliance, the MMA. And even then many analysts insist MMA’s victory in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was ‘facilitated’ by the ideologically schizophrenic Musharraf dictatorship. Thus, Khan is certainly not in line to bag any additional number of seats if he allies his party with the JI in the next election. And even though JI still has some muscle left on its otherwise creaking bones to gather a good number of people for rallies, Khan can now do that on his own. So if one rules out gathering additional seats in an election or the fattening of political rallies as reasons for Khan’s romance with JI, what else is there for him to gain from the purposed alliance? He hasn’t been able to give a more concrete answer himself, apart from that he thinks JI is one of the few ‘non-controversial’ and ‘clean’ parties out there. Of course, Khan’s political naïveté and his simplistic (if not entirely selective) understanding of the country’s political history have never been a secret, so let’s just leave his reading of the JI at that. However, there just might be some pragmatic meat after all behind Khan’s move to partner JI, or for that matter, to continue sending his ‘envoys’ to rallies held by far-right groups such as the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC). JI’s vote bank which is more akin to generate spoilers than produce winners, mainly lies in pockets in Karachi, Lahore, central Punjab and parts of KP. For example, in elections that were boycotted by JI, most of its votes largely went to conservative-democratic parties like the PML-N. In some incidents a chunk of JI voters voted for PML-N just so the JI candidate is not able to split the right-wing vote in the constituency and consequently produce a victory for non-right/secular parties. So perhaps what is on Khan’s mind is a three-way fight (especially in the Punjab) between the PML-N, PPP and PTI, where Khan wants the JI vote to come to him instead of going to the PML-N? In theory it makes sense. But statistics of the elections held since 1988 clearly see how rapidly JI’s vote bank has shrunk. It is however true though, that JI votes continue to go to PML-N. So does this mean that by warming up to Islamic outfits whose supporters usually end up voting for the much larger conservative political parties such as the PML-N and JUI-F, Khan is squarely going for the PML-N and JUI-F vote bank? I believe so. By holding hands with the JI and flirting with DPC, Khan is trying to attract the right-wing and Islamic votes into becoming consolidated PTI votes. If he also manages to break a few PPP votes then that will be a bonus because his other hope in this respect are the young first-time-voters. They are a mixture of formally apolitical (but socially liberal) urbanites and those who see Khan as some kind of a reincarnation of a more romanticised version of Z.A. Bhutto. That said, there certainly is an ideological link between PTI and JI as well. Apart from being baptised into politics by right-wing figures such as Hamid Gul, Khan’s initial political training took place at the hands of former JI chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmed. Though one can’t accuse Khan of being an ‘Islamic fundamentalist,’ he most certainly is right-wing. At least in the post-Cold War context in which many rightists have adopted a number of old leftist gestures, rhetoric and postures to address the concerns of societies disorientated by the economic and social fall-outs of things like globalisation, religious extremism and War on Terror. Khan also seems to have a sentimental spot for JI. His idea about JI suggests that he views this party as an ideological powerhouse that just got blown away by the crude ways of populist electoral politics. Some would also suggest that since Khan’s recent rise was shaped a bit by some powerful figures in the country’s intelligence agencies, it was only natural for him to make friends with the ‘B teams of the agencies’, such as JI, DPC, etc. Whatever the case, Khan is very much his own man now. His popularity, if not entirely judged by superficial popularity polls, does have a genuine tinge to it. His rendezvous with the Islamic right in the shape of JI or DPC may make some political sense, but he should also be conscious of the other side of the issue. His manoeuvres in this regard are likely to make his more liberal supporters question his egalitarian postures and stands on things like religious extremism: not only the kind practised by sectarian and militant organisations, but also the sort of religious bullying members of parties like JI have had a history of. Suffice to say, these are the kind of questions that are not answered by sharing sofas and stages with outfits known for having sympathies for Islamic extremists and for laws that have created more disorder than otherwise.
Clarke Posted July 8, 2012 Posted July 8, 2012 ^^ Remember those words of Shashi Tharoor: As this otherwise minor editorial spat demonstrates, Indians need to put aside their illusions that there are liberal partners for us on the other side of the border who echo our diagnosis of their plight and share our desire to defenestrate their military. Nor should we be surprised: a Pakistani liberal is, after all, a Pakistani before he is a liberal.
triam Posted September 13, 2012 Posted September 13, 2012 Very disturbing talks and thoughts from Imran for a while now, looks and sounds like almost wanting to embrace the hardcore mullah's and the rest. Maybe he will win (doubt it highly), but highly doubt if he will actually make a positive difference to the current Pak's religious culture (which IMO is the root cause of all their problems).
superstar Posted September 13, 2012 Posted September 13, 2012 He is less radical guy for Pak. From India point of view no difference. Not even one politician is ready to stop terrorists and accept LOC as final border.
triam Posted September 14, 2012 Posted September 14, 2012 He is less radical guy for Pak. From India point of view no difference. Not even one politician is ready to stop terrorists and accept LOC as final border. Superstar I doubt he is less radical than the ones in power right now, less corrupt maybe but not less radical.
ravishingravi Posted September 15, 2012 Posted September 15, 2012 He is less radical guy for Pak. From India point of view no difference. Not even one politician is ready to stop terrorists and accept LOC as final border. More conservative certainly.
Clarke Posted September 15, 2012 Posted September 15, 2012 Touching upon the sensitive issue of the blasphemous film that has generated massive protests by Muslims everywhere, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan likened the sentiments of Muslims for blasphemy with that of the Jews for the holocaust and asked for similar rights with regard to hate speech. Speaking in Chitral and taking the Jewish Holocaust as an example, Khan said that people in Europe can be jailed for just questioning the actuality of the massacre because it hurt the sentiments of the Jews. We are also being hurt in the name of freedom of speech? said Khan. We will also get the same law implemented for us in the West, he added. :giggle: Khan said that the people of the West were ignorant of Islam and it was their ignorance which was being manipulated by the people spreading hate against the religion. They do not know how much we love our beloved Prophet (pbuh) that Muslims are willing to sacrifice their lives for him, said Khan. :WTF: http://tribune.com.pk/story/437192/imran-khan-likens-muslim-sentiment-for-blasphemy-to-jews-for-holocaust/#comments Funny guy. Wait, he's running for PM
Lurker Posted September 16, 2012 Posted September 16, 2012 http://tribune.com.pk/story/437192/imran-khan-likens-muslim-sentiment-for-blasphemy-to-jews-for-holocaust/#comments Funny guy. Wait, he's running for PM Never liked the guy. So no surprises. Pakistanis like him because he is a sports icon, and compared to other tainted politician rather non-controversial. Not to mention is educated and well read, and also driven in his own way. Still the man has always been more right leaning than left. If you want to see what kind of person he is, have a look at him when he is asked the question - Who was the best all-rounder of your time? He just sits there and looks at you as if WTF! Is that even a question? I am the best!!! You will see Kapil, Hadlee and Botham all being very appreciative of everyone else, Kapil for example will always put himself last, but Imran is too much in love with himself. It works like that in his politics too. Always seems full of himself.
Utalk Posted September 16, 2012 Posted September 16, 2012 Never liked the guy. So no surprises. Pakistanis like him because he is a sports icon, and compared to other tainted politician rather non-controversial. Not to mention is educated and well read, and also driven in his own way. Still the man has always been more right leaning than left. If you want to see what kind of person he is, have a look at him when he is asked the question - Who was the best all-rounder of your time? He just sits there and looks at you as if WTF! Is that even a question? I am the best!!! You will see Kapil, Hadlee and Botham all being very appreciative of everyone else, Kapil for example will always put himself last, but Imran is too much in love with himself. It works like that in his politics too. Always seems full of himself. In regards to you last point I disagree with you mate. Kapil Dev yes he is a down to earth punjabi but Beefi always gets agitated when his co commentators say he is not the best among fab four.
Prakat Posted September 16, 2012 Posted September 16, 2012 A life in Politics tests the best of intentions. Every year this guy stays out of power he will keep moving to the right because that's where the votes are. By the time he gets power he will be so far to the right that he will be indistinguishable from the rabid and rotten people he was supposed to replace. :hehe:
Asim Posted October 3, 2012 Author Posted October 3, 2012 B5qU70oY_tA Imran Khan, Marie Ann Wright Former Diplomat and Lauren Booth British Journalist in "Capital Talk" about Imran Khan's "Peace Rally" towards Waziristan on 7th Oct against Drone Attacks.
The Realist Posted December 10, 2012 Posted December 10, 2012 Basket case of a country. Khan is a buffoon - was regarded as a party clown in England. Both deserve each other.
KhanSaab Posted December 10, 2012 Posted December 10, 2012 Khan is a buffoon - was regarded as a party clown in England. must be true then.
Asim Posted May 22, 2013 Author Posted May 22, 2013 Imran Khan Goes Home (May 22, 2013) We are pleased to announce that this morning, Mr. Imran Khan was discharged home from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre. Imran walked from his room on the third floor of the Hospital to the exit on the ground floor, unaided (see video). As previously explained, Imran will continue to receive regular physiotherapy and will need to wear a spinal support for some weeks to come. Imran will gradually increase physical activity over the next few weeks with a return to his full functional capacity expected in approximately six to eight weeks. While leaving, Imran thanked all his friends, well-wishers and the millions of individuals all over the world who had offered their sympathy, prayers and support throughout his illness. The entire staff of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre wishes Imran a speedy recovery and all the best for the future. Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre video: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=601498843201782&set=vb.234494467028&type=2&theater
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