There are three aspects of his character that are widely acknowledged and I believe admired as well. These are: integrity, commitment to great causes, and perseverance. This is what constitutes an optimistic outlook of such persons — meaning, there is something that needs to be done, I can do it, and I must do it. It was with this optimism that he cast himself for a political role — a more complex, unpredictable, and an ugly support than a‘gentlemanly’ world of cricket.
By any measure he has not failed in politics, so far. He has succeeded in mobilising Pakistani youth in every corner of the country that is widely attracted to his party, his leadership and his message of hope. He has founded a party, a second in Pakistan’s history after the PPP, that has emerged second in the 2013 general elections on the basis of popular vote count — leaving the PPP, once a party of the people, far behind. He still remains a popular leader; perhaps some notches down the scale since marching farther towards Parliament and the prime minister’s house. Some other events have equally hurt his reputation, notably storming of the PTV by ‘workers’ or goons, aligning with Allama Tahirul Qadri, and heavy shadow of well-known political intriguers that have flourished under the military rule. These characters from the past would like to see ‘right’ conditions created for the military’s intervention in politics. That will be a disaster for the country.
The kaptaan is right to say that the match is not over yet and he will stay here until the finish. This is what every captain must say and prove. Using the analogy of cricket, many matches that IK played, some must have ended in a draw. The question here is what is going to be the endgame? Drawback to old political positions — after so much drama, pain and investment of political capital will hurt him very badly. Not sure if daily appearance on the evening political show, and repeating same lines every day and his routine of picking up from where the famous Qadri ends throwing his political pearls is helping him either. No matter how much his diehard supporters justify his ‘long march’ becoming overstay, I see Imran hurting his political cause by overdoing and overplaying.
Imran made many bad political calculations about the numbers marching with him, vulnerability of the government and about the ‘umpire’ raising his finger. Yet another blunder is overcommitting to not-leaving-the-place until he forces the prime minister to resign. Rather, the government’s counter strategy not to use force and allow him to fume and exhaust himself has worked in some ways.
The stalemate doesn’t help the government either. It is weakened greatly by the nightly tirade of allegations about rigging, corruption, bad governance and the controversial past. This unique political confrontation may end up in all political men falling together, if they fail to capture the spirit of the moment.
The spirit is for real reforms in the electoral process, governance, delivery of services, rule of law and judicial system. Once done, that will be our true liberation and revolution.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (10)
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Pakistan need urgently need reforms in all sectors of government not revolution.
In this long march if we see the mobilization of people,that is not up to the mark as required for a revolution and till now we do not see any abrupt change in the political system.Civil disobedience moment has failed and there is no unrest any where in the country.There is no chance of any type of revolution,now,under which we can find an abrupt change in political system or in social order but as a matter of fact PTI has revolutionary ideas like end of social injustice, corruption free legal system,stable economy ,better education system for all etc. if PTI want to enforce these ideas in this country they have to enforce through the parliament living under the same system by improving the deliverance of the same political system.
The problem is that no real reforms in areas stated would be carried out by Parliament dominated by PMLN/PPP and allied parties.As soon as the public pressure of long march/dharnas is removed by IK and TUQ the government will wriggle out of any commitment made on these aspects.All other parties will support them in the name of saving democracy /system.We will be back to square one and status quo will reign.
@Ranjha: IK is the biggest fake and immoral personality in pakistani political senarion.He has proved himself immature, stubborn and uturn specilist. What kind of change he is trying to bring out in this country............ From Civil Disobedience to Militay Disobedience>>>
IK should go for electoral reforms and forget about his other demands. True electoral reforms will be a great victory.
@Mirza: As a nation,we got a habit of being used and abused by PMLN and PPP.. for many ppl what IK is saying is something out of world. Hazrat Ali said, dont see who is saying ,Only see what is he saying. i think what he says is right and all other things or aspect r irrelevant.
@Mirza:
Reading your comment, it is obvious that you fear Imran. Your reflexive hatred (a product of fear) makes you pour out reams negative comments, which are utterly unconnected to any reality.
Imran has pulled the curtain on Pak politics and governance once and for all for the whole nation to see what our "democrats" are made out of--the emperor has absolutely no clothes! This lesson will not be forgotten at the next elections. No ifs and buts.
Imran is the most cunning, tenacious and risk-taking person to have appeared on the political stage in Pakistan. He knows that people will believe him no matter what based on his iron clad integrity. His theatrics, dharnas and other antics are part of a deliberate strategy to take away whatever shred of credibility the corrupt ruling class and its paid supporters in political parties, bureaucracy, police, media and legal profession have left. Once this nexus is fully exposed, it will find it hard to control power through Machiavellian tactics and/or brute force.
Fear not, your children will thank Imran for making a better Pakistan!
IK has taken almost two decades to capture this popularity in young urban elites of the society. He is peaked personally but no other leader who has not captured a majority of the people in two decades has come to power with a party that is filled with lotas and Choudhrys of Gujrat. IK’s party has always been a one man show and a lifetime chief. IK’s kids may not have any interest in Pakistan and its politics but he is a lifelong chief of the party without a doubt which does not make him any better than other leaders. IK has not much support among the illiterate masses in the rural areas which form Pakistan’s 75% population. Unless IK can make them feel comfortable with his lifestyle and settles in Pakistan there would always be a wide gap. The news that finally IK is willing to marry a Pakistani woman would be a great first step as he never liked a Pakistan woman in his rich and famous life. In addition IK has to stop living of other people’s money and has to work for a living which he never did like most of us do. Unless we the people can relate to him, he has shot his load and is only going to go down.