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 graciously, and briefly, and then then nearly all of us made the best of the overnight flight by going off to sleep. Of course, I first watched the ‘Tribute to a Legend’ show on Pakistani 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.
Observer,
I agree with you that it will be Imran Khan joining Aitzaz and co. and not the other way round, if a meger happens.
For the discerning minds a very important speech by Aitzaz in Faisalabad. I have just read his key statements , one of them is especially very important. I am translating what I’ve read/heard on the news.
“It is not the right time to have political parties join us in full force right now, but that time will come soon.”
The lawyers’ movement will not fade into the background after winning the legal battle. Infact the game begins thereafter :)
Observer, “Institutions not individuals is the way to go and the nation is learning that, I think”.
I hope and pray that you are right. Judging from what is being said by most participants here, I am far from being convinced about it.
I guess observer is quite right in his 3rd para i.e why is it that IMRAN was not able to build a team of men around in 11 years who can face media & represent him on his behalf. This is a big question on his “democratic” intentions & its probably one weak point in his camp.
If IRMAN really wants to help democracy he first needs to do some action along with good lectures.
Please remember that only sincerity is not enough. May be the tyrant MUSH is doing all this as “sincerity towards country” but then again his sincerity may be there but what he is failing to understand is the fact that one can DO WRONG with sincerity too. Sincerity doesn’t guarantee success. It only ensures your version of the definition & description of the events. The other events unknown to you may help you change your version of sincerity. And the ability or inability of seeing that other version is what makes a man democratic or a dictator. On most of the occasions the dictators fail to see the other version. And thats why we curse them even if they were sincere.
Here, here Viqar Minai. Institutions not individuals is the way to go and the nation is learning that, I think. Also, Kruman–I agree entirely–the CJP and the legal team are the ones to watch out for on the political front, and in my opinion, that would be a pretty good start for Pakistan. As a lawyer, it makes me extra proud to see them in this light. Call me optimistic, but to me, Benazir and Nawaz are history.
Somebody up here said Imran Khan should look into recruiting Aitzaz Ahsan, I think if there is an alliance to be formed there, it would have to be the other way round–Aitzaz Ahsan is a far bigger name in politics than Imran. But alas, I don’t think playing second fiddle would be something Imran would be interested in.
I have heard him speak several times. His main hero is Mahathir Mohammad (note: not a democratically elected leader). Although he may have delivered in the past, Imran is more authoritarian than democratic in his ways–that is how his former cricket teammates remember him at least. Also, why is it that after ten years of existence, one is hard pressed to name a single important figure in the PTI other than Imran? I wonder: does he refuse to listen to other opinions or build consensus? Does he not want to give others the opportunity to speak on behalf of PTI in the media? Does he deliberately recruit people who cannot overshadow him?
Also, a word about the legal case in the UK–I wish him all the luck with it because I think it would be great if he won but heard him speak at the LSE the other day (as I live in London) and was disappointed to learn that the case is being taken up pro bono. Now, I can tell you as a lawyer who has worked in the UK that pro bono cases, even with the best of intentions, are neglected. It will not be easy to win the Altaf case although there would have been a fair shot if the lawyers taking it up took it as a priority. Unfortunately, pro bono cases are rarely priorities. I am sure that when Imran won the case against Ian Botham, it was not pro bono. Perhaps Jemima’s dad may have paid the legal fees on that one and although I don’t expect Imran to foot the bill for this one, he could have perhaps started a fund and I am sure many Pakistanis would have contributed towards the legal fees so that the lawyers could be compensated for their efforts and would thus make it a priority for them too.
The nation should be thankful to Imran that he has taken head on Altaf after what MQM did on 12th May. Every dog has a day. Altaf has so far been successful getting away with his atrocities as no one dared to challenge him except a small segment of print media.
Only a hypocrtite would say that MQM was not responsible for 12th May carnage. When other leaders tremble to speak against Don of Edgware, Imran Khan spoke without mincing his words who was responsible for the mayhem. Those days are gone when Altaf and his thugs would use force against any newspaper who did not toe his line. This is era of electronic media. The private TV channels showed in black and white the victims as well as perpetrators. Aaj TV footage showed MQM thugs brandishing AK-47 and firing indiscriminately. The Goebbles of MQM are consistently denying and only a naive can believe them. They can not continue throwing dust in the eyes of the people.
Imran Khan’s legal team in London is busy with the task of filing a case against Don of Edgware. In fact they have already handed over a dossier to the Scotland Yard and they are obliged to take action. There are serious allegations levelled against Don. Allegations of money laundering and terrorism will definitely raise eye brows of London police.
No wonder, MQM is keen to cut a deal with Imran Khan which he has already rejected.
Altaf has done enough harm to province of Sindh and its capital Karachi. This thug can not continue like this.