Adil Najam
Legendary cricketer, motivated philanthropist and maverick politician Imran Khan had an emergency stomach surgery performed yesterday.
He is still in hospital (yes, at the very same Shaukat Khannum Hospital that is his greatest gift to Pakistan – yes, it is a gift far greater than even his World Cup cricket victory). But he is reportedly out of danger and recovering.
All Things Pakistan wishes him a speedy recovery.
Get well soon, Imran. We need you.
Here is a news story from BBC with some details:
Surgeons have performed an emergency operation on former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Imran Khan to remove an obstruction in his small intestine. The procedure was carried out on Monday at Lahore’s Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital after Imran, 56, complained of severe pain in his abdomen. A hospital spokesman said afterwards: “Mr Khan is now out of danger.”
Imran, who captained Pakistan to World Cup success in 1992, was a member of the national parliament for five years. He is in intensive care and has been advised to remain in the hospital for at least three days. The hospital where he is being treated is named after Imran’s mother and was established following a charity appeal launched by the ex-cricketer himself, after she died of cancer.
I have known Imran for many years, and in many capacities. I have always admired him. (Here and here).
But, like many others, I have become more and more distanced from his recent political pronouncements. But even as his political stance has sometimes become questionable, his sincerity is beyond doubt and beyond question.
We – Pakistan and Pakistani politics – need Imran. Even for those who may no longer see him as a voice of reason, he is a voice of passion and a voice of principle. We have too few such voices in our politics, and we need more.
Much more than whatever he adds to Pakistan politics is what he adds to Pakistan’s self perception: a belief that we can help ourselves and if we were only to commit ourselves to the right causes, we can rise to great heights. He has done so both with the Shaukat Khannum Hospital and with Namal College (here and here). That, beyond everything else, was what made him the cricket giant that he was – and that, beyond everything else, is what makes him the Pakistani hero that he will always be.
Get well soon, Imran. We need you.
although I have some differences with his approach on Taliban, i still believe if he comes to power he will be much more efffective in dealing with them bcz of his integrity and effectiveness of genuine leader. I think more than any thing we need a true leader in this time of crisis.
By prayers are with Imran for a speedy recovery.
We need his voice in politics even when we do not agree with it because it makes democracy in the country more real.
Unfortunately his Taliban support has cost him many supporters, but I still respect him personally.
Get well soon Imran!Inshallah!
@ Humaira!
He does not support Talibans. He merely maintains development of their lands so that young guys do not fall prey to the talibans. Secondly he speaks about the mental setup of the pashtuns in those rugged terrains. Just do not listen or read his words, get what he means in between those lines. He is not stupid of supporting talibans.
In that scenario he is right, one cannot just go out and start killing someone who hasa beard. Just find the reasons and cure them. What are the reasons for martial laws and politicians selling their politics? Simple, as a nation we are groomed to save your own butt before thinking about the country. This includes all!!!
We have a habit of criticzing than to look at our own footsteps. Nations cannot be built that way nor mentalities changed by army actions. All the army and politicians are crooks which resulted in a poor nation. This is a fodder and fertile grounds for us to keep looting the country.
Appreciate Khan for atleast working for a cancer ctr and establishing a technical college, both were a necassity! and he delivered. But us as a nation will never vote for him since we are used to crooks in the parliaments since wre are crooks ourselves!
Imran,
I wish you well.
Here is some advice.
Please reduce the number of TV appearances.
Frankly, you excessive appearance on TV is leading to viewer fatigue. There are too many voices of unreason on TV these days that the noise to signal ratio is becoming unbearable.
It is deeply disappointing to see you associate yourself with the likes of anti-American zealots like Shireen Mazari who vacation in W. Europe and lavish their money on beauty parlours every day. These are people who do not have the interest of Pakistan at heart.
Please conduct elections to the PTI as soon as possible. Encourage some second rung leaders in your party to grow and ask them to front end some of the shows so you can focus on building the party. Some times it makes people wonder, if there is anyone else who is part of the PTI leadership? You are a born leader, yes, but that does not mean you stifle any form of dissenting voices in the party . People are asking how you are different from Zardari or Sharif in that respect. You don’t want the PTI to die with you. Do you?
Wish you a speedy recovery.
May Allah Almighty make Imran Khan fit and healthy again. He looked very weak and aged in a recent interview. Right from my school days Imran Khan’s attitude towards cricket and life in general has been a beacon of hope and an example to emulate.
Imran bhai, we need you man… big time. We’ve lost far too many great men without realizing their potential and without giving their bonafide intentions a chance. We can’t afford to let Imran Khan go to waste by not giving him a chance to implement his intentions. The same intentions that we have seen being implemented in 1992, also in the form of SKMH and recently in the form of Namal College.