But a solid agenda is still missing
That Imran could manage to hold what is being described as the largest public meeting in Karachi’s history is a testimony to his rising popularity. That he could perform the feat in MQM’s traditional stronghold is all the more significant. While he has succeeded in recruiting a number of well-known political figures from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, what should worry him is that there was not a single widely known leader from either Sindh or Balochistan on the stage.
The roadmap for revolutionary change promised by Imran is likely to give birth to a lively debate in days and weeks to come. While some of the goalposts set by him might be useful as a distant ideal, they are simply impracticable unless Pakistan develops into a highly industrialised and prosperous country which is not possible during the five-year tenure of the next government, irrespective of the party or the alliance that comes to power. Foremost among these is his peculiar concept of an Islamic welfare state which is based on the British model of the welfare state of the early 70’s. Economic crunch has already led to the curtailment of the welfare programme in Britain. PTI chief has made promises to provide free quality education, access to medical facilities and legal aid to all in the country. Small farmers have been assured that they would get cheap power and fertiliser and free seeds. Imran has also vowed to end the country’s dependence on foreign aid. He plans to achieve all this by making everyone pay taxes and luring foreign investments by improving law and order. A dedicated administration can no doubt bring about changes of the sort. As things stand, these would be incremental rather than revolutionary. It is simply hyperbolic to promise that his party would “control and finish corruption in 90 days.”
There was nothing concrete in Imran’s programme to address the concerns of the smaller provinces and minorities. While he promised to divert funds for the development of Balochistan, he took no notice of forced disappearances and killings in the province which are a source of deep concern for the Baloch as well as people in other provinces.