The PTI and Punjab

PTI has begun to move into the heartland areas of Punjab where its threat is perhaps most strongly felt by the PML-N.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has begun to move into the heartland areas of Punjab where its threat is perhaps most strongly felt by the PML-N, which has held dominance over these regions for many years now. The rally led by Imran Khan in the industrial town of Sialkot on March 23 appears again to have been attended by a large number of youth. Young people in the country quite desperately want change; this much is obvious. Many see Imran and his party as the only force which can in fact bring about this change.

But thinking more rationally and with greater maturity, is this really the case? Imran said little that was new at the rally, lashing out in usual fashion at the corruption of the PPP and at the PML-N. He argued that distributing laptop computers to young people would not win them over and that what the country needed most of all was better governance and a greater willingness to act in favour of the people. The party’s chief is, of course, quite correct in this. But the problem is that he does not explain how he plans to deliver on this vision and what strategies he will employ to bring under check the huge difficulties we face. This implies that what he says is really little more than the rhetoric we hear so often from others. While the rally in Sialkot, like others before it, was a success, the PTI will need to present some definite agenda for the electorate if it is to pose a true challenge to the parties which have dominated the admittedly-sombre political landscape in the country. We do not yet know if the people turning out at the party’s rallies will transform into actual votes in the final run-up to the elections.

The old ghost of the ISI also emerged with the PTI leaders making it a point to deny any involvement by the agency. But, of course, words are not always believed. The ISI tag seems to be stuck with the PTI, and while it clearly challenges the PML-N in the home province of Nawaz Sharif, it is yet to be seen how people will finally interpret what the party stands for. That said, one thing seems clear for now — despite detractors and critics, it seems to be gaining ground, especially among younger Pakistanis.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2012.