Pakistan: Imran Khan or not, that is the question...

Let’s assume for a moment that Imran Khan becomes the Prime Minister – the only way he is will get there is by tapping into the rightist conservative vote bank of the PML-N, PML-Q  and JI plus the poor, under-educated masses who also follow the conservative line on ‘controversial issues’ — the urban educated middle class simply isn’t enough in numbers.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: The Express Tribune | Blog
By Umer Pirzada | November 3, 2011

Why I don’t support Imran Khan? Go ahead and vote for him - but don't believe his promises. 

This is not the way a revolution happens – with unquestioning obedience and a blind following; this is how cults are made. That is exactly what we have happening here, much like the cult following of the Bhuttos, Imran Khan is cultivating the image of a one man show (much like his cricketing years I might add).

How can he stand out from the rest when he follows the same policies? For those that don’t know, the PTI does not hold internal elections, Imran Khan is the president for life and office bearers are appointed.

If we tolerate his pandering now how can we expect him to deliver on his promises in power?

You are empowering him to become a hostage of the ‘powers that be’ in the future. He has consistently failed to come up with a rational platform of his own, instead he latches onto one issue after the next emulating the Jamaat-e-Islami mullahs in a manner typical of a born again Muslim. This shows a distinct lack of vision which is systemic in our political system, so again how is Imran Khan better or different?


The immediate answer is of course ‘corruption’.

I concede, that with the bar this low he can’t be worse, but as for his promises of bringing an end to corruption, just take a look at who he’s been bringing in to the party recently. You can ignore the developments if you want, but just consider this scenario:

Let’s assume for a moment that Imran Khan becomes the Prime Minister – the only way he is will get there is by tapping into the rightist conservative vote bank of the PML-N, PML-Q  and JI plus the poor, under-educated masses who also follow the conservative line on ‘controversial issues’ — the urban educated middle class simply isn’t enough in numbers. He is beholden to them. Now keep in mind these people have traditionally voted for the opposition parties in the Imran Khan government (PPP, PML-N and PML-Q) so he goes after their members and leaders, they cry politically motivated persecution just as they did under Musharraf and mobilize these same people against him. If you don’t believe me you need to read up on our political history.

At this stage Imran Khan has lost his mandate and is forced to either back down or take the more forceful measures as might befit a dictator. The latter approach seems to suit his character type more. So, Khan is now in a classic catch-22; he alienates people further no matter what. His only option for political survival is to compromise just as General Musharraf had to do.

Now assume that I’m wrong.

Imran Khan manages to deliver in this aspect – how is he going to run the country?

With his foreign policy of alienating the US and negotiating with extremists?


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