Politics is not easy. Just ask Imran Khan who has been trying hard to make it in mainstream politics for over 15 years. It is easy to criticise Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), more than any other party in Pakistan, for its more than glaring shortcomings. With its erratic politics, the PTI is a sitting duck for critics, and most of the time the critics have their guns aimed right where they should be. For some odd reason, the party has not been able to outgrow its image as that of unruly, mismanaged, directionless youth under a leader whose only claim to political leadership stems from his leading the national cricket team some 20 years ago.
But, is that all that Imran Khan and his supporters have come to be associated with? Does it make him not worthy of a leadership role at the national political scenario? Or, does it all make his supporters any less, or for that matter any more, loyal to him as a political leader as compared to any other leader of the country? Are not other parties similarly ambiguous on various national issues? These and many other searing questions can set ablaze a trail of criticism that won’t die away even if the politicians were incapable of corruption, monetary or otherwise.
Too many have written off Imran Khan as another pressure group, branding him a puppet of the establishment. Whether the military establishment has got his back or not, let’s just take a minute here and have a holistic look at the phenomenon that Imran has become. True, all great leaders are not mere flesh and bones, but they are also not all ideas and theories. Much goes on in between. A hundred mistakes may be made and forgiven by the public before a leader establishes his street cred. All because of a simple logical rule of democracy: being the real electorate, it is the public who is the real authority. It is they who in democracy hold in their hand, their own fate and their leaders’. And that’s exactly where Imran’s politics derives its thrust from: the powerhouse of populism.
Everything he claims he will do if he is catapulted into power appeals to the public’s sentiment. Though the veracity of his claims can surely be questioned, popular public support for his agenda is under no doubt. Therein also lies for him the trick to success in politics – other than what are considered to be ‘shortcuts’. This is also what the other political parties are quite familiar with, for certain feats, like the two-third mandate and NRO, are not possible without sacrificing some of the rules politicians publicly claim to hold dear.
PTI has certainly got something good going on for it at the moment: public support is increasing, the so-called silent majority is stirring, mainstream political parties have been jolted from that perch they so easily obtain through feudalism and the manipulation of ballot box, which they sort of have come to take for granted, a successful jalsa in the heartland of the largest province, much better media foot print and a general perception of a clean class of politicians.
Much of the above is debatable for the skeptic, as it should be. At least, I, for one, – and I am sure there are many more like me – am not ready to express my confidence in a politician who lacks a clear strategy on foreign policy, international relations, economy and terrorism. But then again, this should not be an impediment in considering Imran a leader whose popularity has been and is increasing compared to the rest of the politicians.
For a comparison, PPP and PML(N) also have no clear policies on most of the issues. PPP claims terrorism must be eradicated but is clueless as to how, much in the same fashion as PTI is. PML(N) hasn’t even taken a stance on this issue, except for perhaps Shahbaz Sharif’s gaffe at placating the terrorists. A discord between both the main parties earlier on the issue of VAT, and now on MFN status to India, explains the fact that they are as much of an expert at economic policies as PTI. Yes, the party has issues and maybe it is not ready for primetime politics but the popularity it has cultivated over time cannot be wished away.
That perseverance pays off, even in politics, is visible after the 30 October jalsa in Lahore. Talks of a third force in the garb of PTI have become ubiquitous; the youth seems energetic and political awareness among the ordinary citizens is on an upward climb. And that, to be fair, is the real impact of Imran Khan and his style of politics. Even if he loses in the upcoming elections, this is enough of an effort to start a snowball effect.