The tiger is an apex predator. It is a solitary, powerful beast and it is no surprise that Imran Khan is attracted to it. The Imran we all once knew was a cricket superstar who captained Pakistan to their first World Cup victory. He rallied the Pakistani cricket team in the 1992 final, ordering teammates to play like “cornered tigers”. A voracious playboy — he was once married to Jemima Goldsmith and was romantically linked to the likes of Susannah Constantine, Sita White, and Goldie Hawn. Like Imran’s bouffant hirsute and playboy years, the tiger analogy is now passé. As a politician, Imran needs to build true credibility. Democracy, as they say, must be something more than just a tiger and a cow voting on what to eat for dinner.
Over the years, Imran’s political campaign has been built around a narrative that has close associations with violent jihad. He has channeled public support using a popular, yet simplistic refrain that Pakistan’s political elite bears the blame for all of Pakistan’s woes. He argues that this political elite is corrupt and is complicit with the United States in the ongoing war on terror. This “master-slave” relationship, as Imran called it in a recent interview with Julian Assange, has caused indiscriminate death in Pakistan.
Imran’s misguided strategy is treacherous. Islamist groups exemplify all that is wrong with Pakistan. Their version of Islam lacks both empathy and tolerance. Islamists have long manipulated religion to advance a political agenda. Like the Republican Newt Gingrich, Imran has traded political obscurity for fleeting notoriety. The potential for intellectual rigour has been traded for half-baked ideas, the sort, which according to Najam Sethi, “you would pick up at an airport — and now Imran is caught in a no-man’s land, satisfying neither liberals nor conservatives”. Imran’s political rhetoric does not provide the framework to organise a proper government. Any Pakistani who pontificates that they can end corruption and terrorism in 90 days is disingenuous. But then again, this is the same Imran who wrote that Darwin didn’t quite get it right — referring to his theory of evolution as “half-baked”.
According to Imran, the salvation of Pakistan’s sovereignty lies in resurrecting the ideology that helped create Pakistan. He urges the country to unite to repulse American interests in the region. Imran’s use of religion and anti-American sentiment to push a political agenda is unfortunate. He shows himself as an opportunist, willing to appease Pakistan’s right wing in order to win votes and gain popular support. As someone who has stated that he wants to be “a catalyst for change, bringing in a big revolution in Pakistan and changing the way the country is going”, he is doing everything wrong. Imran’s speeches are full of clichés, false hopes and unreasonable offerings.
Pakistanis should demand more of their politicians — being Imran Khan is not good enough. When John Fitzgerald Kennedy took the oath of office in 1961 as the President of the United States, he delivered a moving speech announcing the dawn of a new era — “rejoicing in hope and patient in tribulation”. He went on to say: “In the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding on the back of the tiger ended up inside it.”
Imran should heed President Kennedy’s tiger analogy instead of politicking like a cornered one.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2012.
COMMENTS (66)
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@Riaz Khan, @CricketStyleManagement, @Anyways, @11housago @billo, @omair, @sabi, @Drmeekal, @zulfikar haider, @lionofpunjab, @Aneez, @Raza Khan, @MN,@Ch Allah Dad, @Raj USA, @Mokun,@Muhammad
Your leaders are most experienced and have made Pakistan economically best in the world. You also are on the right track as you people are following on their tracks. You people also have excellent future. You people will also be earning in millions just like your leaders.
We ordinary people of Pakistan are on the wrong track, so as we are unable to understand your logic because we are ordinary.
Tuhmaray leya tumharey leaders ( Zardari, Nawaz and Altaf) World most genius leaders hamaray leya hamara leader ( Imran). World most stupid leader.
And our vote is still for him :)
@ibrahim m: everything is not cricket. Dynamics are different in matters of governance, foreign relations, people management.
Who is IM?
Well the truth is that if IM had not been backed by DPC, he will win hands down. IM lost his chance.
We do not hate IK but feel he has no program, no strategy, no plan, etc just empty, false & vague promises. His biggest shallowness is by supporting terrorists who are out to destroy the country. If he is being the friend of our enemy than you can easily gauge his intentions.
Some good points raised here. For some more concrete facts behind it, ET also ran this great article detailing Imran Khan's ties to the jihadis http://tribune.com.pk/story/363102/imran-khan-engaging-delusion/
To all th elosers who are anti Imran, please tell me this. Who should I vote for..... Nawaz, Zardari, Altaf or Asfandyar. With such a wonderful choice on the menu, I am really confused...
For all Imran supporters, this argument that since 'he promises to be better than the current lot' is already a defeatist's mantra! I mean from the heady statements, we have come to this rather apologetic defense. I agree with the writer that Imran has got it wrong in certain areas where he has played it to the gallery rather than being the visionary that he claims to be. We want him to be the harbinger of better things for our country. For that, he will have to say what is right and not what most of the gullible people want to hear. I appreciate his selfless drive to better the lot of his countrymen but this is not enough. He needs to be more clever in his public pronouncements and also in posturing. Youth indeed look upto him and seek inspiration. He must guide them to become better human beings rather than the intolerant, aggressive and bad mouthing mob that they have become. The write up is definitely unfair in some areas to Imran but by and large a constructive critique that PTI and Imran need to heed. For there lies potentially the best hope for this beleaguered nation.
If not Imran than whom?
[Imran’s speeches are full of clichés, false hopes and unreasonable offerings.]
No I don't agree with you on this. To me its full of hope and reasonable offerings. He know what to to do. People have trust on him. Good luck to him
imran khan does not qualify as a leader.a leader has to tell the people the realities and be able to change myths and perceptions in public minds.this is not an easy task.instead he has chosen an other path and thhat is to do politics on popular public sentiments which is a clear dishonesty.
Yet.Another.IK.Piece. Enough already!
Another article in Tribune, that would go to any length to make us realize why IK is such a dangerous solution to our problems. When devout of any idea the best defense for this writer is to poke holes when others provide one. Why not write one aritcle in support of all the politicians who are the ruling elite and try to convince us why we should vote with the status quo. Would love to read your astute analysis on such.
very good.
As a politician, Imran needs to build true credibility.
LOL ... Mr Writer, do any of the current politicians have credibility better than Mr Imran? Just show me one and I will be your slave for eternity.
Pakistanis should demand more of their politicians — being Imran Khan is not good enough.
Yes ... and elect Zardari as the next PM!!! Are you serious?
So is Shahid Mahmood going to vote for Altaf Hussain, Zardari, or Sharif instead? In which case one could engage with him and debate him... But I get a sense that he is either the kind who doesnt vote at al (which makes him irrelevant), or the kind who will vote for Imran anyway but be embarassed about it (which shows him up as a confused adolescent).
IK may have good intensions but his support for the group of terrorists whose only aim is to create chaos and crises in a country like Pakistan. IK started pampering them to see that no terrorism comes to his Jalsas and to himself, but the poor fellow has no idea how to handle it in post- election scenario.
Is this Journalism?
@Azizi ...."I’ll save you the lecture and cite the Tamil Tigers for you to read about. I recently read that ex-members of the Tamil Tigers are actually representing Sri Lanka in sports events now so we can still remain optimistic by giving peace a chance" .......... You are mixing Tamil Tigers with Tamil speeking natives of Srilanka... Just to keep the record straight Srilanka's army defeted Tamil Tigers by brute force.
@Aneez: Yes high IQ'd pakistani people like you should be ruled by highly intelligent and educated people like zardari, nawaz sharif.
Haters out in full swing. Instead of giving your usual criticism why don't you try to accomplish even an iota of what he has. Get even one person to follow your ignorant path and I will believe that imran is a farce. Try to read his book, it pretty much all your silly questions. Please mr. Canadian keep your all knowing attitude to yourself stick to cartoons, being in a western country doesn't give you the right to preach.
Malik Riaz money is active.
@Javed Shah: Shah Sb. beware of the sincerity of a fool. It's far more dangerous than the insincerity of a clever man.
@Azizi: Pls get you facts right. Tamil tigers were wiped out by concerted military action which is what is required for the taliban and the likes of hafiz saeed and JUD etc. Or are you trying to rewrite history as you have done for Pakistan..
A very different, unique and factual Op Ed, kudos to the writer and ET.
Im the Dim....is really an idiot who has been propelled in politics by even dimmer supporters
Imran Khan is Sarah Palin of Pakistan and even she could not win her elections. He has no plan, no roadmap, no vision, just naive slogans and empty promises. If he sincerely thinks that he can end corruption in Pakistan in 90 days and terrorism in 19 days, then he is either a baffoon or he is trying to fool us. Well I am not going to vote for him or his party of lotas and ex-cons who supported mushy in the past. Good luck Mr Niazi as you will need it to face media to explain why you lost elections!
I am an Indian amd do not support any political party in Pakistan. But I find your blog internally inconsistent. In different places you describe Imran as opportunist, misguided and treacherous. These are not the same thing. I doubt that even his opponents would question his patriotism and call him treacherous. If you have some knowledge that leads you that conclusion, please share it instead of stating your opinion that he is treacherous as a fact. You have also used some metaphors quite incorrectly. For example, you have described Imran as a cornered tiger. For better or worse he is the most popular person in your country right now and his popularity is on the ascendant. It is unclear why you would describe him as having been cornered.
Having said this I will say that the things about Imran that have caused me concern as an Indian is that he says different things regarding Kashmir and support to outfits like LeT that push terror when he speaks to Indian journalists and completely different stuff in Pakistan public meetings.
@z that is what they are violent characters calling themselves Islamist what else can you Call them ,??? Hindu jehadist christian Jewish ?? don't exist
If IK and his fold were to take hold of the country, one thing is certain: US embassy will run out of visa- application forms.
The great white hope of Pakistan-Imran Khan!
The author lost me when he used the words 'violent jihad.' Typical of the neoconservative narrative in the US.
The ills within the society in genral go unrecognised by Imran khan Pakistan needs a leader to cure these ills,,,CORRUPTION is the big card everyone plays to discredit the existing political class. no doubt the dictators were not corrupt and generally speaking the people who worked with them were not corrupt and what did they achieve .? NOTHING A wise and sincere leader will want Pakistan to take advantage of American technology ,money and expertise like most European nations do It is sad that Imran khan is riding the horse or rather donkey of corruption .In a country where almost everybody is corrupt,only a slow soft approach to abolition of corruption will work... removing and replacing a few politicians will not make any difference
@Raza Khan: yes true IK is naive to understand the system and to think he can win the elections in pakistan. The current group of highly experienced leaders been doing a great job in running the country. Thousands killed in Balchistan, Karachi and in GB, economy ratings downgraded, power and water shortage, failed foreign policies, mammoth amount of corruption in each and every department just some of the examples of what and excellent job the experienced leaders are doing which IK won't be able to live up to.
Imran Khan could have been a messiah bringing liberal values of tolerance, peace, education and economic prosperity to Pakistan. Instead he campaigns on ridiculous right-wing assertions, failed notions of Islamic glory, and a mullah-agenda.
He could have campaigned for an honest government, justice for all (this includes the unfortunate minorities), a clear separation of religion from the state, economic liberalization and friendly relations with all countries of the world.
But instead, alas, he's playing the religious-mullah card. What a pity now your choices are between the currently ruling crooks (PPP), the former ruling crooks (PML), murderous mullahs and a former playboy turned mullah. Who's going to provide the leadership that this country so desperately needs?
Sometimes liberals are so passionate about freedom they want to be free of intelligence. When we look around we see cycles in nature - seasons, the revolution of planets, even in the life of humans we see youth, middle-age and old age, yet we foolishly believe a theory that states nature progresses in a linear fashion. It doesn't cross our mind that since science is so powerfully effective in the world, it might be useful to propagate some theories over others. I mean with all the destruction that modern civilization has brought to the world, how else can we make people believe we have 'progressed' unless we have science-fiction like evolution promoted as fact.
All we care is his sicnerety. We don't want another mullah or clean version of like Mualana Fazal style. He has served nation for the last 60 years in personal capacity and we are confident that he will do it in future too. We don't need cunning leaders who will pretend to be clean but infact they have looted public many times.
O Mr. Columnist who gave you the right to point finger on IK. He is favorite leader in the whole Pakistan and you wrote him a play boy. I ask u whether u did not flirt or stare at any body. We will support him morally and financially even we are outside the country because he is the only leader who gave the hope to Pakistani people to trust on democracy. Mind ur tongue and ur words and mind ur own business. You people are the only supporters of Feudalism lords, looters and corrupt 3rd class politicians.
The bias of these so called writers can is evident by the fact there are no articles about the moral and financial corruption of Nawaz, Zardari, Gillani, Altaf. I will respect these authors once i see their honest impartial pieces about the rest of the leaders also. The easiest way to be famous these days for these liberals is to attack Imran Khan. I rest my case.
I will vote for him because of his vision he is not MUNAFIQ or FEUDAL or LOOTER of public money he dont play ethanic politics or sooba card he is not like MQM and ANP who carrys an arm wings he is vissionary person who has dream of building a Oxford of pakistan.
He was blayboy on his own money not on public looted swiss accounts where PMs of pakistan are giving there BALI (Secraficed).
An extremely shallow, cliche-ridden attempt at character-assassination that betrays the author being utterly out of touch with the ground realities of Pakistan. Using inane JFK quotes do not lend profundity to such limp analysis. Reality is far more complex and less black and white - something that Imran realises but the author doesn't.
"A voracious playboy — he was once married to Jemima Goldsmith and was romantically linked to the likes of Susannah Constantine, Sita White, and Goldie Hawn."
Not just that all were white, non-muslim woman. In addition, there was a paternity law suit from Sita White claiming Imran fathered her child. Pre-marital conjugal relationship (he has never denied pre-marital conjugal relations with Sita White) from a Practicing Muslim as he often claims, and ardent preacher of Tribal Customs !!!!! He is a person who has determined that there is no Pakistani Muslim woman good enough for him. Preaching is so different from Practice. Haroon Rasheed rightly said in a recent TV debate that Imran may be free of financial corruption but cannot deny moral corruption. The question is can both types of corruption remain separate for long, particularly as he often goes back on his promises and totally changes his stance 180 degrees. Questions are now being raised by many on his lavish life style, source of income, palatial home and large land holding (part of which is in his sister's name).
@Faraz: On your first point: Important to distinguish that at the time the state was under the military's control when they militants were mobilized. The army has vested interests and DPC/JI are pawns in the game who put up a show at the establishment's call. PTI realizes this connection and knows that in order for there to be civilian rule it will have to convince DPC leaders to let the rule of law take over, which is what Khan emphasizes on.
Your second point: The state did not face any such challenge from the militants before the war on terror, which is why Imran is against fighting America's war. Time and again he repeats that if we step out of this war, then the militants will go back to doing what they have always done and will stop meddling in Pakistan's affairs. This is a realistic scenario and there are countless examples in history regarding this. I'll save you the lecture and cite the Tamil Tigers for you to read about. I recently read that ex-members of the Tamil Tigers are actually representing Sri Lanka in sports events now so we can still remain optimistic by giving peace a chance.
Your third point: Nobody forced any ideology on anyone before the war. Imran is the only politician who went to Balochistan and spoke about the rights of Hazara. He clearly says he wants rights for all ethnic/religious groups. Watch the video of his jalsa over there and you can hear for yourself. Also, nobody is "negotiating" ideological demands. Human nature doesn't accept ideological demands. Look at what happened to Hitler's Germany. I really think you need some perspective and need to step out of the cave you're living in.
On your last point: We have seen the state of government's hold on the country and its affairs in the past four years. Target ethnic killings / forced conversions / rise of extremism / lack of development / increased robberies / massive inflation / economic stagflation / no foreign investment / energy crisis / weakening rupee and the exchange rate dilemma. This all can be attributed to the weak institutions of the state, who's heads are involved in plundering and storing away wealth while the nation suffers. Where people misunderstand IK is when he says he'll end major corruption in 90 days, he means that he will appoint qualified and trustworthy people on important positions so they can then fix their respective institutions and make them a vital organ of the state.
If the population fails to realize that these are all realistic, achievable goals set by Imran then they don't deserve what he is fighting for and can continue to suffer from the likes of Zardari and Nawaz. You guys say Imran is sitting with DPC and JI, look at what has emerged out of South Punjab under Shahbaz Sharif. We all know the Sharif's deep links with the more dangerous islamic parties and their ties with Saudi Arabia's monarchy that has historically funded the militant campaigns. Yet the finger is raised against Imran Khan who is the only leader that talks sense. Is mulk ka Allah hi hafiz hay!
Tiger is to Imran as Shaheen is to Iqbal!!
How many more times are we going to read the same things on ET !! I humbly request ET team to please check and read articles / blogs / Co-epd before publishing them.
Justify one thing please, When IK say something it's easily labelled Rhetoric but when the same bunch of journalist write same things over and over and over again why isn't that labelled ' rhetoric '' by the some journalist / writer ? such is the hypocrisy . Alas !! Quit it haters,
If I'd to choose between Hafiz Saeed and Imran Khan, I would choose Hafiz Saeed. Atleast Hafiz is not a hypocrat. Imran somewhat resembles with Sheikh Rashid. The only difference is that Imran played cricket and married once.
Shahid - I am reading your article for the first time but I am sorry to say I am very disappointed with the quality of it. How is taking on corruption, pushing for much more social sector spending on education and health, better fiscal management, and independent foreign policy formulation tied to militancy and terrorism? I bet you can neither spell out details of any policy published by PTI nor know anything valuable being conducted by PTI think tanks. When your research and conclusions are so poorly laid out, how on earth do you expect anyone to take you serious???
@Ali q
Firstly, the state nurtured hundreds of thousands of militants to wage proxy wars in Afghanistan and Kashmir. So DPC/JI have vested interest in proxy wars; PTI fails to understand this connection. Secondly, the state has monopoly over ruse of force. Any element which challenges the writ of the state has to neutralized, otherwise the state will cease to exist. Thirdly, if militants want to enforce their extremist ideology on others, then there is nothing left to negotiate. Political demands can be negotiated; not ideological ones. Fourth, socioeconomic factors are crucial, but they can’t be modified in the short run. Complete writ of the state is a precondition for economic development .
On the spot, good piece of writing. False hopes, cheap/loud/emotional claims, impractical approach all smells that IK is hungry for power and that's it. He does not have any clue how to take this country out its mess...
Problem is that other political parties are so corrupt and inefficient, that people simply ignore his goofy ideas like Omar’s law, Iqbal’s ‘vision’, slaves of America, 90 day anti-corruption plan
Is this any end to this set of repetitive arguments against IK? At least bring some ingenuity, these points have been addressed countless times...
The author is simplifying issues (which is obviously very ironic). IK has always been right in criticizing this war on terror. His critics who validate this war by pointing out the 40,000 dead Pakistanis at the hands of “evil militants” can’t seem to understand that it’s not that black and white. While I do not justify any of the actions of the terrorists, but some perspective needs to be kept: To push a cause (just or not), the militants have at their disposal a region ripe for recruiting: uneducated masses/easy access to weaponry/lack of justice or rule of law (all of which are failures of the state of Pakistan!). Whenever a state (Pakistan or any other) indulges in a war within its borders, it inevitably creates a mess, because that’s the nature of wars. Wars are a messy business. Terrorists attacking civilians is wrong…but if a man has been convinced his cause is just (which is relatively easy, given that the state has failed them in so many ways) he will resort to militancy and try to create impact. If the militants had F-16s at their disposal they would fight the militaries of the US/Pakistan using F-16s. But they don’t. so they resort to coming into our cities. In the end, all war is wrong. But let’s not forget – fault lies on the the state of Pakistan/Afghanistan/US as much as it lies with the terrorists. Terrorism is the war of the poor and war is terrorism of the rich.
I think the author is guilty of simplifying isues. IK has always been right in criticizing this war on terror. His critics who validate this war by pointing out the 40,000 dead Pakistanis at the hands of “evil militants” can’t seem to understand that it’s not that black and white. While I do not justify any of the actions of the terrorists, but some perspective needs to be kept: To push a cause (just or not), the militants have at their disposal a region ripe for recruiting: uneducated masses/easy access to weaponry/lack of justice or rule of law (all of which are failures of the state of Pakistan!). Whenever a state (Pakistan or any other) indulges in a war within its borders, it inevitably creates a mess, because that’s the nature of wars. Wars are a messy business. Terrorists attacking civilians is wrong…but if a man has been convinced his cause is just (which is relatively easy, given that the state has failed them in so many ways) he will resort to militancy and try to create impact. If the militants had F-16s at their disposal they would fight the militaries of the US/Pakistan using F-16s. But they don’t. so they resort to coming into our cities. In the end, all war is wrong. But let’s not forget – fault lies on the the state of Pakistan/Afghanistan/US as much as it lies with the terrorists. Terrorism is the war of the poor and war is the terrorism of the rich.
but didnt imran khan's cornered tigers win..when the whole world doubted them.. they will win again...and doubters will always doubt
Shahid Mehmood is right on the spot!
Cue PTI trolls.
Fully agree with the writer! IK is too niave to understand the nitty gritty of running the government. He reminds me of Bull in a China Shop. By the time he will come out nothing would be left in the China shop. God save this country!
"Misguided Knowledge" or "Effort at Misguiding" is what best describes this article. The writer and his likes (rather all PTI-haters) should read the following to know more about what "Imran Khan stands for" (or for that matter "does not stand for"). The PTI Argument Imran Stands Out Imran Khan - Reality over Myth
"But then again, this is the same Imran who wrote that Darwin didn’t quite get it right — referring to his theory of evolution as “half-baked”." At a recent rally, IK accused Darwin of keeping a billion-trillion-gazillion dollars in a Swiss bank account. When asked for hard-evidence, he said "there is no need for hard-evidence." "If I say it, it is true," said IK. Then, he went on to loudly exclaim that Darwin is the only reason Pakistan is a mess, while in the background a group of his militant supporters blew up a girls school. Lastly, while leaving the rally, IK bribed a police vehicle to stand with his 100's of private security guards for extra protection from liberals who are armed with books, reasons and facts. "Darwin's slave-of-America Pakistan is over," exclaimed IK as he got into his American car to fly to America to ask Americans to donate to his political party and to meet his American son.
Total non sense, in fact depicts envy, hatred, frustration, and low sense of esteem, writing about one of the finest personalities from Pakistan. May Allah Subhana protect Imran, and help him in his endeavors.