I suffer from an inherent distrust of anything popular. My instinct is always: if everyone likes it then it mustn’t be very good. It is a judgment that has served me well, saving me from wasting hours of my life on the Twilight series, “Entourage”, political talk shows, Bollywood (especially anything with Shahrukh Khan in it) and tomatoes. The times when I have been happily proven wrong are few but memorable: The Harry Potter films (particularly the last three in the series), club sandwiches, Twitter and night suit pyjamas. Behaviourally, the result of this anti-popular attitude has resulted in an obnoxious level of cynicism that I am always trying to consciously curb. No one wants to sit next to the guy with his thumbs permanently positioned downwards.
This attitude, combined with my lack of basic eye-hand coordination, means I have always hated cricket. It started out as bitterness, caused by my consistently being chosen last for any team before being relegated to the furthest corner of the field. The mass throwing up of arms in despair whenever it was my turn to wield the bat didn’t help much, nor did the fact that the bat and ball were mine and the playing field was always my garden. The result of all this negativity was that I distrusted anyone who played cricket and generally felt the game was patronised only by morally corrupt jerks who would reveal themselves one day as fools, liars and beaters of women and babies. Therefore, you can imagine my smug smile of victory as the verdict of the spot-fixing trial was recently announced. “See,” I muttered, “if we had all just stayed inside and read books like I said, then none of this would have happened”. Pakistan would not have been shamed (yet again) on the international stage and none of your hearts would be broken by the shameful betrayal that our team put you through. But no one ever listens to me until it’s too late. The curse of being unpopular.
This is probably why I dislike the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf even more now. They never rejected me for membership (largely because I never gave them the opportunity by applying), but the current wave of popularity has set my cynicism senses tingling aplenty. Imran Khan himself I do not mind so much. His honesty, I don’t doubt for a second, nor do I question his commitment to his beliefs. Better and more knowledgeable people than I have critiqued the intelligence behind those beliefs and the practicality of his promises. I agree with all their analysis and won’t bother regurgitating it here. You, after all, will not be convinced by me that having Hamid Gul as a supporter is a bad sign and finding partners in the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan is worse. Those who have thrown their support behind him have done so with all the zeal of a Twilight enthusiast and it will take nothing less than post-election disillusionment and disappointment for them to realise that a little cynicism goes a long way. For now, even I am willing to acknowledge that the oddly unfamiliar sensation of hope that everyone is feeling is a good high to enjoy and anyone who will further diminish the PML-N’s chances of being relevant is appreciated. Do I wish Imran Khan was liberal, secular and analytically impressive? Absolutely, but then I’ve also come to terms (albeit grudgingly) with the fact that those are not things that Pakistan currently has any interest in being. Do I also wish that he had stayed consistent with the anti-corruption platform he began with all those years ago? Sure, but then he would have to staff the entire government with clones of himself were he to ever come to power. So all that’s left of me is to sit here and sulk, waiting for my turn at the inevitable I-Told-You-So. Let me have that, it’s all I have left.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2011.
COMMENTS (52)
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@...:
I was rather unaware that you intended to correct the mechanics of my comments. Kindly recommend some future remedies. I have no time to read "Harry Potter", books. I was unaware that such books are perhaps your favorite pastime.
Your grammar is awful. Also, I resent the fact that you chose the Harry Potter films over the books.
i would say that its ok if youngsters are supporting PTI but dont assume its a revolution like itanain or french its just a new face in this dirty game of politics so we should have a hope from Mr IK that there wont be any corruptions and foul play in his match of politics. tried a lot so let him show his potential that should be aim instead of assuming as its a revolution
Having said that i have alot of disagreements with Khan myself. Those three qualities however are there in Khan, if anyone at all in Pakistan. Not that they are worth much or even worth pursuing(Im agnostic but i really dont see how calling a nation secular makes it so, which is why the neurosis with it is meaningless). It needs to be seen though whether he can deliver even minimally; it takes more then being any of that to achieve progress and prosperity in Pakistan.
"Do I wish Imran Khan was liberal, secular and analytically impressive?"
This gives you away as either deliberately not doing the needed research, pandering to the Facebook liberals(anti liberals really),some of whom frequent pk tribune quite often, or just being plain, well, simple, without any nuance. Oh well, pk tribune. Where a disgruntled group of the urban upper-middle class gathers around to perpetuate and reinforce each others myth about anything that isnt clear cut playing to the western post 9/11 establishment and its rhetoric.
Oh, so the obvious reason for your cynicism is Sipah e sahaba supporting Imran.
Sami
I like the article.. Gives us a check on reality but I will still be voting for the first time and that will be for Imran Khan (PTI). I hope you do the same = D ...
I thought You would present reasons to dislike PTI or Khan for that matter but very cynically you convinced me more to vote for him as he is the best choice for now
If Imran had the political instinct embeded in him, he wouldn't have been so easily misled into missing the bus in the last general elections. From now to the time the general elections take place there may be enough hurdles along the road for Imran to take a wrong turn without the political grooming that IRI would never provide to a Taliban supporter.
Couldn't have said it better myself. Cricket, Twilight, PTI (as well as a cup of cha); everything I have trouble digesting.
Imran Khan may be gaining popularity and momentum, but the way I see it, he lacks charisma, speaking power and more importantly, a clear direction. I'll probably vote him, only because it can't get any worse than PPP/PML-N, but Imran taking the reigns won't get us out of the mess we're in.
I guess pakistan is the only country where every right wing political party cames with a slogan of revolution and the middle left relies for the status quo
@ Zaf:
No what we are saying is that don't expect too much. Obama came with same type of "crowed" behind him, and what did he give, what did he change? Nothing, things remain same. That's what we fear. We think that IK supporters don't know how politics works and how system runs. They do not support IK for his policies but because of wind blowing on his side. We pray that IK delivers. But we are not "blind' follower of a leader. What we care is that "things" get changed, no matter who brings them.
so you guys are just going to sit and wait for that I-told-You-so moment??? if you think IK won't change anything and we all wil be dissappointed then you should present an alternate solution! shouldn't you??
:) I understand the pain; you want to be with the most unpopular one...it's very difficult nowadays, very tough competition. As if it was not enough, it's getting easier to pick up the popular option. There is only one, dignified and distinguished. Even hatters are now revisiting their opinions.
As elections approach, rejected and expelled candidates from other parties will take over PTI, because Imran has failed to produce winnable candidates in his 15 years of politics. He can’t produce 900 new candidates in 1 year.
My vote and support is for IK and PTI.
Imran Khan is far far better than ZAB
no human is not know what comes and lies in future !!! so buddy don't be so pessimist, support IMRAN and the MOVEMENT OF JUSTICE IN PAKISTAN (PTI). IKHAN is a clean person, he doesn't need money for himself , so its mean HE is right person !!! so show some analysis inthe right direction and support him and leave every thing in the hands of ALLAH PAAK.
Nice read.. One question Sami... have you registered your vote? :-)
I agree with you. I have said this before: Imran Khan is just a more glamorous version of Hina Rabbani Khar.
You have an interesting attitude I must say. However, I must also add that regardless of what happens to PTI, if the world had been only inhabited by 'I told you so' types...we would still be living in the stone age!
Sami,
You simply lack the intellect to comment on the game of cricket, leave alone understand it. Regarding Imran, I think, all his supporters, including myself, should not even waste our time on individuals like you. Good luck with the present liberal minded, demented bigots, and hope they reward you with the stolen wealth of Pakistan.
Given the current state of affairs i'm totally willing to take the risk. We'll never know whether its an i told you so situation or not unless we give him a chance. And even if it is, breaking the current status quo will reignite hope in the population and set stage for better people if he too fails.
Sami, what you are trying to say might actually turn out to be true....but the problem here is....we have seen/tried/tested all the other options....and he is the only one left now....so we as Pakistanis don't have any other option then Imran Khan.....and there are 2 possibilities if he does gets elected.....he might deliver a part of what he says he will do.....and second is he is as bad as the others were.....so its better to try a new face then the old crooks.....i think we need to take our chances....and as far as IK coming into power using the same crooks in his cabinet... I will again take risk in accepting what he says: 'if the leader of 100 lions is a dog than those 100 lions also start acting like a dog, but if leader of 100 dogs is a lion then those 100 dogs will start acting as a lion' (I believe this was the case with Musharraf Cabinet as well) :). So i would say, take a calculated risk....A new face is better then an old one...Pakistan Zindabad....Hamesha Paindabad....!!
I am with you. My name says it all.
To the writer: So basically you are back where you started, On the edge of the field, hoping the ball does not come your way,hoping your team loses, that will show em not letting you bat :P
@Moeed Rehman: You are spot on. Corruption is a slogan behind which the military industrial complex keeps all the perks and expensive war toys but deflects the attention to the political govt. All the nuclear toys were made despite this "corruption". The economic progress overtakes the corruption as is happening in Turkey, India, China and similar countries. An example is no country would buy fake drugs and the drug companies and traders in Pakistan would be forced to make pure real drugs. Similarly food would become better as the trade grows. Why would somebody do hanky panky when they can make more money without it?
Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't care for it. It has it's amazing moments. But really don't bother watching it unless with other friends and we're bored out of our minds...
Same goes for Dexter. There are better noir or dark comics than Dexter...
Did not know about SSP. Guess they really are eating into PML-N's base (L-e-J supporters). Kind of nulls the rhetoric on minority rights when they stand with religious anti-minority sectarian hate groups, militants and terrorists strong ties to their VP Ejaz Chaudry apparently. Calling Imran a Taliban sympathizer or Wahhabi nut is fair.
Ugh. Young folks these days are all like 'there's only one party here in Pk if you're look enough' at the mention of comparison. Hello!? It isn't China, people!
May you and your whole lot be ruled by Mr Asif Zardari and his children Ameen
@Keep trying: It's not analytically impressive because he isn't the one doing the analysis. It's always something a number of people have said long before him.
Price a cynic has to pay, playing the part of an outsider. Its worth it, i am with you.
I agree with you. This is because what Imran Khan is trying to do is to completely eradicate all the corruption that is there in our country but corruption is not the main problem of our society. Corruption existence can be there and still the country can prosper. If anyone of you knows about the example of Lalu parsaad of India who is popular for corruption but he changed the worse condition of railway and did so well that even universities like Havard are going to do research on the policies which he adopted. I hope I got my point made.
Dont worry risk averse guys, you can jump in the band wagon right when we are at the finish line. We wont tell anyone.
Wait till he comes back from China.
I say so called "liberals", because the real liberals support the same policies of Imran Khan - to establish justice for all and stop fighting.
Sami it is nice to read some reality and common sense. One man (IK) with a magic lamp to change the entire fabric of the country is sheer dream. IK is no Jinnah, Liaqut, or ZAB, even these leaders could not change the plight of the country. It is not a one man show to rule the country and bring it to prosperity while keeping the defense expenses and general power intact. He has no program to deal with this and religious fanatics. In fact he is supported by both the generals and fanatics. Where is his team of politicians and technocrates to win on their own? Or he is going to depend upon the supporters of Mush like PML-Q by another name. The youth in America had great hopes for a "chane" in the last election. However, they are disappointed to see that one man show cannot change the old system. I did tell all my friends and family about Obama's election and later disappointment.
Imran Khan and the ISI are awesome blossom.
Sami sahab make your own party of dont like any thing in the world president Ijaz Haider vice president Najim sethy, standing by president Mr Sami Shaw and acting president Mr Mr Khalid ahmed....
I'd love to know what is not analytically impressive? He's been right about almost everything he's said over the years. It's amazing to see the so called "liberals" pushing the same policies for years as Pakistan digs itself into a hole, and they still think they are right.
Clearly then the problem lies with you and not with Imran Khan's PTI and its political ascent!
Join the APML Sami. Thats the place for dreamers like you.
I loved the way you have taken a position on this issue and at the same time you have a secret escape hatch, just in case. Always enjoy reading you.
sighh..finally someone like minded..i am waiting for the i-told-u-so moment all the while hoping it never comes..for all our sakes
So all that’s left of me is to sit here and sulk, waiting for my turn at the inevitable I-Told-You-So. Let me have that, it’s all I have left.
you surely will HAVE IT! :P
Brilliant. I too am waiting for that day when I update my status, "I told you so".
This article seems more about you than your cynicism about Imran Khan's new found popularity.
Sami-Aazar here (Your IBA Friend, who called you IBA lately in March).
Anyway, we all are supporting him because we want to support the right man. Regardless, he will win or not!.
That-is-all-I-Have-to-say.
haha, poor you:p but twilight and cricket things were way too clearly disappointing. even for the fans. They know that it's trivial or just facades but still got hooked.
As for PTI even you agree about honesty and all. That's what we need. Rest will be taken care of later. FIRST THINGS FIRST!
inshallah this argument will end up with club sandwiches, twitter and night suit pyjamas...