IK in K-Town

No doubt that Imran has touched a chord with a section of population that had been politically inert for many years

The Revolution Roadshow came briefly to Karachi on September 21 and supporters of Imran Khan who is currently, but so far unsuccessfully, trying to bring down the sitting government, welcomed him. Mr Khan brought with him his by now familiar position statements, modified to take account of his local audience that had turned out in their tens of thousands. He spoke of wanting to bring unity to Punjabis, Sindhis, Baloch, Pakhtuns and Mohajirs, a litany that would be familiar to the ears of those who have lived in Karachi for decades — many of who will have viewed the turnout for Mr Khan with a gelid eye. There can now be no doubt that Mr Khan can command the kind of support in numbers that may for the first time in decades somewhat challenge the political primacy of the MQM in our largest city, and largest revenue generator for the national economy. Turning supporters at a Sunday rally into a force that would challenge the political status quo in Karachi may not be such an improbability after all.

Mr Khan was careful to tick the right boxes for his audience. He promised to depoliticise the police force of Karachi, long seen as a major hurdle in the way of bringing any sort of peace and stability to the city, and to end the blight of targeted killing. He vowed to eliminate the water and land mafias in Lyari, a part of the city notorious for its gang warfare as well as the desperate poverty and deprivation of basic services of many of its inhabitants. He promised a great deal, none of it much different from what every other politician in Karachi has promised, and he did it all without a single mention of dominant political parties, something of a feat by itself.

Whatever one thinks of Imran Khan and his methods — particularly seeking to overthrow a government by something other than democratic process — there can be no doubt that he has touched a chord with a section of the population that had been politically inert for many years. A conventional revolution it is not — but a harbinger of change it is.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2014.

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