Starry-eyed idealism no more
It was a crisp morning in Lahore, on the day before Halloween, last year. Political pundits had made their predictions, and partisan hacks had made their speculations. Everyone, with their gaze towards the Minar-e-Pakistan and abated breath, waited to find out if the day would mark the end of Imran Khan’s promise, or witness the birth of a new political force.
And then it happened: they came in groups of tens and twenties and hundreds – on donkey-carts and Land-Cruisers, from affluent living-rooms as well as dusty fields, some bare-footed and others in Prada shoes – till the swell of humanity became the PTI ‘tsunami’. They waited patiently and danced for hours in anticipation of one person alone: imran Khan. There was no Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Javed Hashmi, Khurshid Kasuri or Shafqat Mehmood on the stage. in fact, this ‘tsunami’ had gathered to celebrate the antithesis of what these individuals stood for. The moment was a fracture in the fabric of our political history, and marked the inception of a new hope.
But somewhere along the past six months, we have witnessed a tempering of this hope and a dilution of the idealism that enveloped Minar-e-Pakistan that October night. And it is only pertinent to ask why?
Let’s start with the basics: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf is defined more by what it is not, rather than what it is. if one were to stop a person in the street (whether or not such person supports Imran Khan) and ask what PTI stands for, the answer would most likely not entail a discourse on PTI’s education policy, or justice sector reform, or economic expansion plan. The answer, in all likelihood would be some version of ‘everyone else is a ‘chor’ (thief) while Imran Khan is not!’ And in this way, PTI is defined by what it is not: it is not PML(N) or PPP; other party leaders are corrupt whereas Imran Khan is not; members of other political parties hide their assets and evade taxes whereas PTI members do not; other parties frequently settle on their principles (‘mukmuka’) whereas PTI does not. This forms PTI’s identity and appeal among the disillusioned voters, disappointed by decades of bad governance, who can now turn to a party that is all the things that others are not.
But this definition receives a fatal blow when in every jalsa (after Lahore), we find Imran Khan flanked by faces that he promised he was ‘not’! To cushion the blow, PTI members would explain that these individuals have been ‘reformed’ and that politics necessitates certain manoeuvring for survival. Don’t look now, but these are all the arguments
that have previously been presented by parties that PTI says it is not.
Imran Khan’s defence for including certain (less than ideal) individuals in his party is that regardless of who joins the party, at the time of awarding of tickets, PTI will only pick the best and the brightest. Well, let’s for a second assume that Imran Khan will be able to withstand the insurmountable pressure of awarding tickets to certain (compromised) heavyweights in PTI, does this mean that such individuals (some belonging to Lahore’s land mafia, some who have faithfully served dictators, others who have a record of financial irregularities) will have no influence – none – in any government that PTI forms? Even without tickets, will they not find a place as members of task-forces and inspection committees? Will certain individuals, who have donated crores of rupees to the party or have been dancing to its tune, be miraculously ignored one fine day? Khan Sb, we really want to believe you on this, but let’s be realistic!
Furthermore, coming into the home-stretch before national elections, Imran Khan faces the immediate problems of gelling together the old and new guard of PTI. Despite smiling faces on the camera, there are hushed murmurs of discontentment among the old party loyalists who suddenly find that a new breed of (expedient) politicians have been inducted into the party over their heads. Imran Khan’s defence, in this regard, is that the party will hold internal elections and choose its leadership. This is virtuous and democratic (another aspect where PTI is not what others are – a dynastic party). But, with due respect, the holding of party-elections does not correct the wrong. The truth remains that in order to ‘attract’ political bigwigs, the party has ‘wronged’ its loyalists and sacrificed idealism at the altar of expediency. While this is a consistent practice in other political parties, it was hoped that PTI would be different and shall prefer principles over personalities. And to deepen the issue, if (in all likelihood) the new political heavyweights bulldoze through the party elections, the legacy of Imran’s party and its stance on scruples will be at the mercy of the very individuals against whom PTI’s workers have struggled for fifteen years.
Khan saab – the enduring image, etched in our national memory, is your last bowl to Illingworth in 1992, after which you raised your arms in victory as a teary-eyed Pakistan fixed its gaze on you in pride. My generation – today’s youth, which is your political base – was raised on the legend of the uncompromising and principled Imran Khan. And that ideal led us all to Minar-e-Pakistan in October. Politics, they say, has no relation to morals so this is perhaps bad political advice: but the idealist in me would rather see an honest and uncompromising Imran Khan in the opposition, than an expedient and unscrupulous Imran in power.
The writer is a lawyer based in Lahore. He has a Masters in Constitutional Law from Harvard Law School. He can be reached at: [email protected]
come on…… no party in pakistan has ever done internal elections…. after the internal elections, PTI is going to be a complete institution unlike other self claimed political parties
I could not agree with you more! i have several times warned Imran in different comments that he is now surrounded by the ilkes of Brutus and Mark Anthony. Your excellent article has succintley put it together. Pakistan is a complex country! Idealism is for the starry eyed people sitting under the banyan tree. Idealism has to go over to pragmitism—here lies Imran,s problem like the late ZAB,s. Pakistan basically has three kind of people.1) the feudal landlords. These are never going to let go anything.2) The industialist.They cannot be threatened lest they destroy the economy
3) The common man in the steet including the students who seem to be bought by a free meal and a lapptop!
Imran has yet to evolve a comprehensive policy which sounds plausible.Sometimes he wants to copy the Scandinavian model without understanding what it is! I don,t understand what he means by wellfare state–reminds of Zia!
I don,t agree with you that he should be an idealist and sit on the opposition benches.
He has been in opposition for a long time. What has he achieved? When push has come to shuff he has withdrawn. He needs good adviser.–I am afraid he has,t got them or perhaps ignores them at his peril. It can,t be a one man,s show. it is not cricket any more! It is Realpolitikk.
yes,Mr.khan,its realpolitik;you yourself have acknowledged that there are feudal landlords,industrial giants and political elites who control the decision making bodies of this country,so tell us some magic formula through which an educated youth coming from middle class could win an election against a Sharif or Gilani or jhakrani or chaudhary or a pir or whatever.if you think they can be defeated by a nobody,you are living in a fool's paradise.so you need to be realistic yourself.it's realpolitik as you yourself have mentioned.if you think that Nawaz sharif is going to bring about a change with JATOE AND AMIR MUQAM,AND HUMAYUN AKHTAR,KASHMALA TARIQ,SHER AFGHAN NIAZI,ZAED HAMID,SALEM SAIF ULLAH,HAMID NASIR CHATTA,THEN you have my sympathies.FOR GOD SAKE GIVE MAN A CHANCE,GIVE THIS COUNTRY A CHANCE .YOU GUYS ARE RUNNING AFTER AN IDEAL WHICH IS NOT THERE.IDEAL LEADERS ,IDEAL SITUATIONS DON'T EXIST IN REAL LIFE.THERE R ONLY BAD AND BETTER.YOU GET TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THOSE TWO MY DEAR PAKISTANI.IMRAN KHAN IS NOT A MESSIAH ,A PERFECT BEING,BUT HE IS NOT A RUN OF THE MILL POLITICIAN LIKE NAWAZ SHARIF AND OTHERS WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE THIS TIHNG CALLED ''VISION''.THINK IT OVER AND MAKE YOUR CHOICE.GOD BLESS PAKISTAN
If Quaid-e-Azam wait for idealism and did not had accepted Unionist, then neither get seats in election 1946, neither get bargaining power nor Pakistan will be created.
In such society, you are advising Imran Khan for idealist approach. Do you want Imran Khan to be the future Asghar Khan.
If you are following PTI, then you must have know that how Imran handled Shah Mehmood Qureshi and tell them that "who is to lead" in PTI.
BTW, I advise you to go through PTI Energy Policy and Rural empowerment policy. Please contact Insaf Professional Forum if you dont have.
Very good reply. The great Muhammad Ali Jinnah had to make compromises in his epic struggle for pakistan and had to keep idealism aside to get to the main objective. This is what Imran Khna is doing and is doing the right thing.
We are with Imran Khan and , Inshallah, will do everything at our disposal to bring great Khan into power and get rid of looters like zardari and shareef brothers.
Imran is the only hope for this country
Long live Pakistan, Long live Imran.
very pertinent questions raised.
Good read. I do agree with some of your raised concerns. But lets face the facts, you've got to play politics, you cannot just sit around being stubborn.
Saad talked about being realistic, well one cannot remain in opposition waiting for people alike him to come up from no where to help him produce the results. Certainly, one can raise their opinion being antagonism for government but cannot resist the sitting ministers and government officials actions against the betterment of people and for their own benefits, obviously.
We living in that part of the world where people cast their votes on the basis of real face politicians, the one's who can really solve their issues. For instance, if Imran Khan put new faces with excellent background against the polished version of politicians they would loose because masses would feel more comfortable with the ones who know how to do politics; its an art not everyone's game.
All in all, Imran Khan do need to take intense care in his near future decisions that it may be a make or break moment for his party and for the people of pakistan (I believe).
good one but two wrongs never make one right. and there is No argument which can stand against wrongs.
Mr. Saad Rasool you are forgetting that something can not be realistic and ideal at the same time so how can you expect him or his policies.. politics is a game of hook and crook.. to survive he may have his reasons for all this.. he is worth a chance let him try then criticise.. i guess this article is an attention seeking stunt.. or you are expecting too much from him.
This is very rich coming from someone whose father’s corruption funded his ivy league education. Start asking questions in your own home first before trying to knock down the one hope this country has!
That my Harvard education was on a scholarship is besides the point. It is necessary to debate policy perspectives openly. That is the only way — through a constructive discussion — that we can ever hope to address the plethora of political and strategic challenges facing our nation. But making baseless and personalized comments of this sort, especially without knowing anything about their veracity, detracts from whatever other (even good) points you might have made.
I have no trouble accepting that I may have offended you (and others) by itching the sacrosanct topic of Imran Khan's leadership. These are my honest opinions, and I express them only because I want to see the myth of Imran Khan be fulfilled. But let's keep the comments contained to the topic, please.
I have full respect for your education and your opinion. But the sad fact about Pakistan is that every thing is personalized as is obvious in your case.The message gets neglected but the messenger gets brutalised. Please keep on writing. The students who are supporting Imran are also accepting lapptops. They are the Judas of tomorrow.Imran,s leadership is yet to be tested.He is at the moment a leader by default! I support Imran but i would like him to deliver. He can,t be a man for all seasons.
Well done Saad. I fully endorse your views and logic behind this article.
What frustrates me are children of corrupt politicians and civil servants who after their expensive western educations are debating why the country is suffering, how it can be improved etc etc. Rather than looking for macro solutions each one of us needs to starts looking in their own homes and starts asking questions their first.
I apologize for personalizing it but it doesn't take einstein to figure out that your father was a policeman and a lot of the things he brought home would not have been possible on his salary. Of course you are not alone. There are many others like you. If you really want to make a difference have the courage and start talking about those difficult issues even if they mean you won't be getting dinner at home.
That you got a scholarship to such a distinguished school is highly commendable but hopefully you shall channels your intelligence in a slightly more constructive way. There is an obvious intellect you possess, don't waste it.
It is utterly disappointing to see such remarks. I suppose one could say that Mr.Babar has been mugged, stabbed and harassed so many times that he is now blindly hoping for a miracle and in such desperation he will not stand for any criticism of the "one hope this country has" as it will awaken him to the rather painfully obvious truth that there is a significant chance Mr.Imran Khan will not be able to deliver what people expect of him. I shall however withhold such line of remarks as it would degrade me to being in the same boat as Mr.Babar for personal attacks. Well Done Mr. Rasool, a great read!
It is a fair comment which is sine qua-non for democracy. The personal remarks are regretable. Winning or loosing is not materia; l fairness in politics is more important. The Great Qaid always took right decisions at rigt time which cannot be dubbed as compromise. He was also dossappointed with some fortune-makers, when he said," I never knew I had so many connterfiet conins in my pocket"
2. The welwishersof Imran Khan are fully justified in cautioning him to be careful about such counterfiets, lest he is also betrayed and the nation is once again bitten by such elements.
Thanks,
M.Shafi Malik Advocate High Court.
What a great article! Although I support PTI, I too am disappointed by the induction of political heavy weights that have recently allowed to jump on the bandwagon. These are people who simply want to become rich and powerful with PTI, since PPP PML did not give them an opportunity to do so! A purer PTI not in power is much better than a corrupted PTI in power.
saad has actually summarised the outcries of the followers of imran khan who had actually come together in the ground of minar e pakistan as a tsunami to show the world that they had faith in what was claimed by the man..yet now with the passage of time and the addition of the same faces in PTI people are unable to hide their shock or disappointment and arent able to have a sayy as to what has happened to imran khanz self created statements..is this reallyy wt was promised by IMRAN KHAN and are we again being readyy for another bad governance..
Shehbaz Sharif's din raat ki mahnat aur Nawaz Sharif ka long term vision muj sy demand karta hai kay main Sher koo vote doon na kay is dhookay baaz Imran aur Chalak loomrhi Zardari ko aur na Bhatta khor Altaf koo … Vote only for Nawaz Sharif
Nawaz ka long term vision is 7 seconds long and can happen anytime between meals. Shabaz may fare better if the big brother was removed being a complete drag. Usman sahib go ahead and waste your.
so we should keep waiting until the time when a perfect human being is born to lead us..till then we should tolerate zardari and sharifs? come on… persnoally if i have 100rs i would not trust zardari, sharifs or even fazlurehman with it… i may well give my 100rs to IK even if he betray me still i would go for the untested rather than the tested and failed politicians…those of us who just sit on facebook and internet and criticize everything should wake up to reality…election is not a burger party… its a game of blood and fighting and i am sure none of you are up to the task..even most of you would not go and vote on election day after sleeping at 6am in the morning… so let IK do his work… positive criticism is one thing but criticism for the sake of criticism is unacceptable…you cannot criticize a man before he fails to deliver…give him time… but i know you would not spare him even if a bad person voted for him you would say oh look this thief or dacoit has voted for imran khan so PTI must be bad…come on… political party is mix of all kind of people..one needs to win election to do something… for your enlightenment i can give you example of the recent PCNS debate in the parliament which had a joint sitting of its 442 members…94% stayed away from the debate…so it means it does not matter if even the corrupt are elected, they will do whatever is told by the party… so instead of criticizing IK for taking some old faces, you should channel your energies to policy making issues… and please dont say that zardari and sharif could not deliver such and such policy so Ik will also fail… there is no such thing is failure for IK…all it needs is hard work and dedication… he had delivered on things which the world thought were impossible…
What a GREAT article, Splendid Job!
moral of this story: Imran Khan is not 100% good, so lets keep voting for Nawaz and Zardari and their kids! While trying to find ills in Imran Khan, writer failed to provide alternatives of Nawaz and Zardari or a new fine politician. So we can ditch the Imran and go with that fine example writer has in mind!
well done, really inspiring, keep it up
it is one the great article i ever read
Nawaz Sharif is the most obvious choice for Pakistan.. For those who understand this, no explanation is needed & for those who do not want to under stand this, no explanation is possible..
Fair enuf, but u think we should go and vote for nawaz zardari agaian? We aren’t fool anymore, it seems hope to us disregarding old/new faces. We trust imran khan and dats it.
i am pti suppoter but i fully appriciate your ideas in most of cases you are right
I THINK NEW GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE IN POWER……IMRAN KHAN I AM WITH U N OFCOURCE YOUTH IS WITH U……MY VOTE IS FR IMRAN KHAN….
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