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Suspicions persist as Imran becomes larger-than-life
Pundits, rivals debate whether the PTI chairman has been vetted by the establishment.
Pundits, rivals debate whether the PTI chairman has been vetted by the establishment. PHOTO: NEFER SEHGAL/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
As Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) continues to swell both in size and stature, so do the suspicions around the party’s ‘genuineness’ persist with political rivals and critics wary of the establishment’s role behind Imran Khan’s unstoppable rise.
“PTI is getting closer to the establishment with every passing day,” alleged Mushahidullah Khan, Pakistan Muslim League-N’s (PML-N) information secretary.
“Suspicions about its genuineness have gained momentum with the induction of over thirty-five seasoned politicians in PTI.” Many of the recruited politicians worked with former president Pervez Musharraf, he added, hinting that it was telling of the party’s close ties with the security establishment.
Apart from Imran’s critics, some political analysts believe that each and every party to enter the political sphere has remained under the hood of the establishment in the past. PML-N MNA Khawaja Asif even once admitted in a television talk show that his party was a tool in the hands of the establishment in the late 80s and early 90s.
“Currently it is hard to find evidence whether parts of the establishment are proactively supporting PTI or not,” said political writer and human rights campaigner Harris Khalique. But the patterns in which Imran Khan is being propped up are comparable, if not entirely similar, to instances in the past when parties ranging from the Convention Muslim League in 1962 to the PML-Q in 2002, he added.
“The establishment, supported by the urban-affluent-middleclass sentiment, wants the incumbent government out at any cost and Imran wants to be in power at the earliest.”
Some pundits, like Khalique, believe that that Imran, who is now 59, is too ambitious to wait for another two electoral cycles.
“This is exactly the reason Imran is embracing the Qureshis, Kasuris, the Legharis, the Mehrs and the Tammans,” said Haris Khalique.
Muddassir Rizvi of the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) observed, “Perception is more important than reality in politics.”
Although Fafen has yet to gauge the political atmosphere in the country, the question over whether Imran was being propped up by the establishment still remains inclusive, Rizvi said.
PTI Information Secretary Shafqat Mehmood, however, rejected the allegations by Imran’s critics, terming them a futile effort to decrease his rising popularity. In the past, he said, “Every political party remained a part of the establishment.”
Ishaq Khan Khakwani, a former federal minister in Shaukat Aziz’s cabinet, who has also recently joined PTI, said the establishment was not capable of amassing people for Imran’s rallies.
“PTI enjoys public support rather than the support of the establishment,” conceding that even though that was the case, the establishment has always been vital in creating a government and sometimes also in achieving its desired results in elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2011.
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Stop living in denial. PTI is a reality. People came to support Pakistan. PTI present what Pakistani wants.Recommend
The article analysis is naive to some extent. Media has played its role more than the establishment…maybe together….as an example observe the coverage give to certain parties especially PTI (also PMLN, MQM, PPP). On the contrary the religious e.g. Jalsas. An example is yesterday Jamiat had a major Dharna at Lahore but compare the coverage as to PTI’s Jalsa. Similarly, bout two weeks ago the religious parties had a 3 Jalsas at Peshawar,Rawalpindi and Lahore. They also had massive attendance but check out the kind of coberage given to them. Infact same day I think PTI was having a Jalsa at Mardan (not sure) . Again compare the difference in coverage to PTI jalsa and the others will be evident.
So to reiterate that bias coverage of Media has had a major role in the present political senario
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Well he now has People who have joined from every single party. And his two top guns, Javed Hashmi and SMQ definitely have an anti-establishment background.Recommend
wind of change is blowing in the country ….
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Please tell us something new…
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Grow up. We are tired of these conspiracy theories. Please gather proof before leveling such allegations.
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@Faheem:
Yes, a well orchestrated reality
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Regardless, PTI is the best party for Pakistan…with or without the backing of establishment.Recommend
These so-called analysts and representatives of tried and tested parties think that everyone in Pakistan is stupid and ignorant. Most of the PTI supporters are those who never voted before because they knew PPP, PML etc r not sincere with Pakistan. Now People of Pakistan have got an option. We have Imran Khan. If we can give 64 years to Army, PML and PPP,,, why not give next 5 years to PTI…. why rely on tried and tested parties everytime
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when Musharraf is joining PTI or announcing his support?
any guess.
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@Muzaffar
The matters is who are the attendees in your Jalsa or Dharna, only party workers or the public too. Media is more focusing on PTI’s Jalsa as public rushing towards it.
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I mean who is influencing the overseas Pakistanis who single handedly support IMRAN KHAN . And If the establishment support them for the first time they are supporting the right party :) .IMRAN is an honest man and ppl of PAkistan are fed up of old corrupt politicians .
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dont deny it! change is coming people. Just be ready, the tsunami is coming. its laughable what PML N leaders are saying now. They were puppets of the establishment for 15 years. Imran Khan is the hope for change and change will come.
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@Abu Evrahim: may bee soon enough
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I was part of Lahore Jalsa and a friend of mine was in Karachi with his family and we were not instructed by establishment or agency…The reality is very simple IK proved his mettle and People have decided to support him and now all these Politicians are coming to PTI to secure there constituency….There will be few dirty people for sure as the whole society is so but IK test is still to come and i am sure he will do as the promised ortherwise MAIN BHI BAGHI HOON!
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Whether or not he’s under establishment’s hood, he should be given a chance to prove his stance. He speaks of change, but with rationality. One could clearly see he’s not coaxing people with false promises in order to get elected, rather he’s giving a wake-up call to the nation. Lets put our confidence in him for once and stop spreading statements which have no weight and truth.
Stand up for the Champion!
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Even though military establishment is backing PTI or not, it remains the most popular party in Pakistan. The main reason is that people who are fed up of two major parties want change and give Imran a chance and rightly so.
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even if it is true that establishment support PTI, then for the first time, establishment is doing the right thing.This will mean that establishment will be for the first time supporting people inspiration.
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please stop from the reality and orignality Imran is himself a true fact and symble that is why peoples and leaders of the other party joing him volunteerily,who hide these facts that mean they have basless aligations.
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Right now we must be wishing ‘ good luck and prosperity ; for ‘ PTI,.we wish that it delivers for the Nation and Country.
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Joining of Javed Hashmi should silence all those critics who believe this movement is being supported by the establishment. Javed Hashmi’s anti establishment stance is not a secret. He would never join a party that has any links to the establishment.
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Well I must say it is very difficult to swallow the pill that the PEOPLE of Pakistan are behind Imran Khan’s success. The political itself are not prepared for change.
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To those who are ranting on about conspiracies: Dont Jalous of PTI :P
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Ironic that the strongest critic of military policies in last 10 years is termed as pro establishment. If they could gauge him, they would have done it 10 years ago. Kaptaan does not fix the match!
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No one loaded people on 5C buses and took them to jalsa. People came on their own.
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The biting political commentary on the state and actuality of Pakistan is nothing but enlightening. As an Indian working in and out of Pakistan since the last two and a half decades, I have witnessed the landscape of the country change. Truth of the matter is, the leading political parties are nothing but incompetent and they have repeatedly proved themselves as such. Imran Khan and his politics have been sidelined earlier because of the blatant truth in his pronouncement. We, the people of the subcontinent are too engrossed in our petty biases to see truth as exactly that. And the moment it hits us in our faces, we divert it towards one form of conspiracy or another or resort to the facade of jingoism just to sustain our precious golden thrones. Imran Khan has proved through his various endeavors that he has the capacity to organize, sustain and prosper institutions. Whether the Pakistani army is behind him or not is immaterial – and should not be touted as a “for or against” his cause and argument. Fact of the matter is, the whole of the subcontinent needs stability, change and independence. We seem to forget the stark polarities present between India and Pakistan just a few decades ago. We also seem to forget the allegiance of India with the USSR and its role in the support of the Russian war in Afghanistan. Things need change in order for them to progress. Honestly, India’s conversion to the American model of capitalism is what brought it to where it is today. I loath to say this but India’s policy to lean towards the side thats winning has been immensely successful.
Pakistan needs change. And presently, by all accounts, it seems Imran Khan is willing and capable of bringing it. Rather than living in denial, Pakistan needs to accept its misgivings and amend them. Sadly, ALL the current political parties have been saying the exact same thing since Zia died. If you go through the records, you will find their leadership saying the same thing over and over again. Let change come. It is welcome and desperately needed.Recommend
Establishment or no establishment, this is not a questions. Change is on its way whether anyone likes it or not….
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i love ik
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Reminds me of Obama — when he was running for office he talked about change and bringing in people from outside Washington. Take a look at who surround Obama today – pretty clear he wasn’t being honest when he made his change/new faces promises.
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Its pointless to comment on Khan’s popularity without being in there yourself.
People in pakistan are very well aware of the country’s state and have a lot of sense of right and wrong. This nation has always supported a leader who has led them on the rightful and just path. The rise of people against musharraf, CJ restoration are good examples.
Khan is only popular because of his clean track record of delivering what he promised. What he said ten years ago about the “so called war against terrorism ” has come true and acknowledged by the americans themselves. Moreover, he speaks common man’s language.
Above all, the masses are really fed up with this joint collaboration of two bigger parties which has delivered massive corruption and lawlessness in the country.
The day Pakistan gets a sound honest leader, world shall witness the true potential of this hapless nation.
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Trying to ignore the reality that most middle class Pakistanis support Imran Khan because he has a vision for the nation and he is not corrupt like our past politicians and dictators alike.
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Our group of 20 friends comprising of bankers and architects went to the jalsa out of share enthusiasm and know a lot of other friends who were there to support our leader. Media should stop anti Imran campaign@Moise:
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I think we should be thankful to PTI for bringing a much-needed revolution because people of this country are incapable of civil war, evidentiary, as it was becoming the last resort for change. Dynasty politics and military interventions have eaten this country like termites. Masses have become sick of governments ineptness to address the inflation, rising poverty, corruption and unemployment. Politicians consider this land to be their fiefdom and want to squeeze every ounce of honey left in the jar.
I hear people talk about PTI lacking a policy and agenda. I don’t see these type of instruments even existing in Pakistani political landscape, does PPP, PMLN or anyone even have one?. I might be naive but I have yet to see or hear any of them talk about it. Just because they have served in power no one seem to question how they will address the countries problem.
What we saw at the Karachi Jalsa was, devastated masses looking up to Imran Khan as a messiah, who will somehow take them out of their misery. I have attended rallies where ppl were paid to attend and were give travel allowance for their presence. Karachi jalsa was not like that. ISI or any agency in this world can’t orchestrate a rally. I felt my Pakistani pride soaring and lucky to live in an era where Imran’s PTI went head to head with political dynasties of Pakistan.
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@Overseas Pakistani:
I think you did not read my comment with concentration. Would you expect the same reaction from the media networks such as CNN, BBC, etc. As the media did not show the others Jalsas which I mentioned so that is why you and others do not know that the crowd in them were also noteworthy.
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