Adil Najam
Flying in from London to Islamabad, I bumped into Imran Khan on the plane. There he was, sitting a couple of rows ahead of me, reading The News, with his own picture on its front page (meeting Nawaz Sharif in London). I had not yet seen the paper, nor followed that days events in London (I was flying in from Amsterdam where I had been in meetings all day). We exchanged a few pleasantries, said nice things about what we had been up to since we had last met in Chicago just about a year ago (I had reported in detail on that here).
I must say, I did not fully grasp everything he said until later after I landed in Islamabad and first saw his supporters and TV cameras lined up at the airport, and then every news channel covering his press conference in London, and its political implications. In our short conversation he pretty much covered the exact same points I saw him presenting on TV,with pretty much the same passion. I guess he had come fresh from the press conference. Since all of that is now in the news already, I will not repeat it. The one thing I did ask him about were rumors about his ‘patch up’ with the MQM leading to the lifting of the ban on his entry into Sindh. Readers would remember those rumors surfacing everywhere, including on ATP, a few days ago. He shrugged those away as nonsense and just rumors.
My own sense from this very brief discussion chat was that:
(a) he does seem very serious abut taking on MQM Chief Altaf Hussain,
(b) that he fully realizes the seriousness of what he is doing, and
(c) he seems to be doing this out of personal conviction much more than political opportunism.
I may turn out to be wrong, but my first impression was that the earnestness with which he spoke about what he was doing and why that cannot be easily faked. This, then, seems not to be a story that will fizzle away easily. Not if Imran can help it.
If this is, in fact, so then Pakistan politics will continue to become even more interesting than it already is. ‘Party’ politics may just come back into limelight, but not ways one had expected. If indeed there are to be elections in Pakistan soon then the impact of this tussle could go well beyond defining what happens to just Imran Khan and the MQM.
By the way, as it turned out it was an interesting PIA fight to be on. Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao boarded soon after me. As did Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan (returning, I believe from the WTO meeting in Geneva). They both greeted Imran with graciously, and briefly, and then then nearly all of us made teh best of the overnight flight by going off to sleep. Of course, I first watched the ‘Tribute to a Legend’ show on filmstar Muhammad Ali on the PIA channel.
P.S. In case you wonder, no, I did not speak to either of the Ministers. I do not know either of them, and would not have known what to say anyhow, especially if either of them had seen my own most recent musings on the political happenings in Pakistan.
Well I dont think that Imran is taking this step on moral grounds alone. For him it is a big opportunity to court voters as Musharraf is seemed to firmly support MQM and he want to cash Anti Musharraf masses.
No doubt that Altaf and its millitant wings are menece but what about about those police officers who killed hundreds of MQM activist in fake encounter. If he is doing all that on moral ground only then he should also file a case against a “government of benazir”. What about incocent ppl killed in Baluchistan during army opeartion. I think it is more of politics.
Ayesha:
I think Imran Khan’s record so far suggests that he deserves a bit less skepticism than that. He has already spurned two opportunities for becoming part of a government. The first was when NS offered him a seat adjustment. The second one came with Mush. Imran could have become PM then. If he were just like any other opportunistic politician, he would have availed these chances, especially the second one. Yes, we haven’t seen him in power, and he does have many flaws, but how many people have let go of a chance to become PM for their principles?
nashus:
We need to come out of the “don’t get your hands dirty in politics and stick to philanthropy if you want to contribute” mode of thinking. If better people don’t come into politics, how will things improve?
Though, I whole heartedly support what Imran is doing it is a small step and Altaf is a symptom of a larger problem but I guess we must start the journey and if we can not then at the least offer support to anyone who does take bold actions.
Pakistani political parties, leadership, and state instituions are guilty of naked abuse of power. People of Pakistan (WE) have tolerance of injustice that borders criminal behavior.
I was beginning to think and give benefit of doubt that Altaf and MQM have gone past the era of violence but their propensity of violence has not decreased a bit as violence of May 12th demonstrated.
Having said this let us not be bias towards MQM, this tendency for violence is present in each and every political party (another good example of PV is JI and their student wing IJT)
I sincerely hope that Imran can make a dent. He has so far demonstrated that he has the political integrity and vision.
think we should support Imran Khan because he is after someone who has murdered so many people
before and now on 12th May 2007 Altaf Hussain is suspected for killings of 42 innocent peaceful protestors.So if he is innocent he should prove his innocence in the court and i think we should honour and accept the decision of the court.
I met Imran Khan last year during his fund raising dinner in NJ, USA. I must say he is exactly what I expected and much more. He brings soo much energy, passion, and truth to his existance. I pray and hope he succeeds in his amibition because Pakistan really need leaders like him.
Only time will tell how dedicated and earnest Imran Khan will turn out to be. Experiance and history tells us that the best of men have succumbed to the political willy nilly atmosphere that seems to be part and parcel of the Pakistani kaliedoscope. Back door deals, odd political bed fellows, retracting statements, befriending verbally sworn enemies etc are an integral part of our political system.
Will Imran change that ?
For further developments , we must wait and watch.
I think Imran has a larger than life image in Pakistan and his involvement in the dirty politics of this country will do neither him nor the country any good. We need more projects like Shaukat Khanum and his under completion college in Mianwalli than his wasting with Altaf Hussain, Benazir and Nawaz Sharif. I fear soon his taking on MQM will lead to Karachi vs Lahore rivalry or Mohajir vs rest of Pakistan. Already we see such suggestions in today’s Daily Times “Musharraf hated because he is a mohajir: US academic”
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007 6\15\story_15-6-2007_pg7_25
Some reservations and concerns. Imran has opened himself to multiple fronts. He has challenged rascals in the MQM, the religious thugs of Lal masjid and therefore confronted the military - the master puppeteer. His friendly gestures to Nawaz may hurt him in the long run and as his popularity grows, other secular forces (PPP etc.) trying to extract favors from the military rulers will view him as a strong adversary. With passing time Imran may well become a man marked for physical elimination.
He can broaden his base through secular nationalistic parties in Baluchiatan, NWFP and Sindh. In fact such a coalition may prove to be more cohesive for the country. But let us first hope that he survives…