The curious case of Imran Khan

Imran Khan ready to bowl. Whiff of expectation in the air. Head lunging forward, piercing gaze, body curved in a magnificent arch, like a Tiger on the prowl. Approaches the wicket, launches into a spectacular leap, body taut and air borne. The ball released, jags, shattering the wickets. Unfortunately, politics is no cricket ground and Imran is not bowling. This is the quirky, capricious world of Pakistani politics and reverse swing just won’t do. What do we make of his political career, progress and ambition? For starters, let’s admit, he has indeed evolved into a force of serious political reckoning despite playing by his own vague set of rules. But along the way he has also tripped, and not without consequences. Someone wise once said, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognise, accept, and celebrate those differences.” How is he different?



He utters the same cliches, spouts the same idiom while holding out the same platter of promises. Yet, he stands out in the din. A media debate rages for a verdict on Imran’s electoral odyssey. The question of Imran becoming the Prime Minister is actually superfluous. It implies a sweeping electoral victory. This notion conveniently ignores Imran’s success in whipping up the urban groundswell, in unleashing forces that would potentially drive meaningful electoral change in Pakistan in due course. To his credit, he has been chipping away at the political constructs and idols, challenging our choices and our rationales. His charisma and dogged pursuit breathed life into a numb electorate. Imran won the world for Pakistan, the pinnacle of a brilliant career. But before that he had to galvanise a clutch of talented rebels into a fighting whole. That was perhaps the real victory.

Imran’s kiss of life to a dead middle class is perhaps the most significant change he has wrought. His rallies are attended by professionals and women who come driven by their love for and belief in Imran. Women claiming their rightful space in a progressive Pakistan has ramifications that go beyond politics. It will have consequences for our society. I had the opportunity to attend one of his rallies in Lahore and was fascinated to see so many families waving and chanting in unison. As wind and rain lashed their faces, as the sky roared and winked, people stood rooted to the ground imbibing the excitement, hoping to be a part of something monumental.

Imran’s portents of a tsunami have not come true. But he has worked up enough urban froth by politicising inert segments of society. Urban youth and women participation in the elections will make them much more inclusive and representative. The emergence of PTI as a third force has broken the stranglehold of the two-party system. This effectively means more choice for people.

Imran now heads towards Islamabad for the showdown. His desperation is palpable and he threatens lockdown of the capital in an effort to draw the law enforcement agencies into using brute force. He shouts hoarse the offshore accounts issue despite the fact that it is sub-judice. That we are only a year and half away from elections makes his strategy questionable for its political efficacy and intent. We don’t need to strain our intellects to understand what went wrong and when during his famous Dharna. Imran’s obsessive demand of PM’s resignation blinded him to the possibility of securing electoral reforms using brinkmanship, and which would have been sweet victory. History too is not on his side. The scale of popular support and rallies across Pakistan that helped Bhutto nudge General Ayub out or brought Benazir back into power are missing. Army seems uninclined to intervene outright despite the latest falling out with civilians. The engagements on the eastern border and Zarb-e-Azb are cumbersome enough to preempt any wild detour. Not to forget the Army image resurrection that General Raheel has so carefully overseen.



Democracy walks the frail gait of a sick man, needing patient attention and shots in the arm. Pakistan can’t possibly afford to undo the democratic progress over the last decade that saw country’s first civilian transition in government and now eyes another in 2018. We must let the rejuvenated electorate chart the course for Pakistan. Let people choose who rules them. Let’s be fair. Imran is little different from other politicians in being lucky to have lived a life of luxury and privilege far removed from the harsh reality. Even the middle class can’t possibly empathise with the misery of the poor, let alone rich politicians. And this means a serious disconnect between the rulers, the aspiring rulers and the 70 per cent of Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2016.

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