Imran Khan Show May Click
By Salahuddin Haider
Karachi, Pakistan
On April 24 the Imran Khan show in Peshawar, climaxing a two-day sit-in against drone attacks, was impressive and may as well click in weeks or months to come. If that happens, it could mark a turning point in Pakistan's history, which has been in the oxygen tent for almost two years now. In fact, ever since the nincompoop PPP leadership took over reigns of power after the 2008 elections, the country has been constantly on a downward slide, and today finds itself in an abject mess.
The economy has little hope of recovery immediately or in the foreseeable future. Inflation has reached menacing proportions to make life miserable for the people forcing them to sell their children, or worse still, kill them for not being able to feed them. It is indeed a shameful situation for the 180 million souls living in a country, founded for the Muslims of the subcontinent to live a decent, happy life. The third PPP government in power within 14 years has done nothing but caused disappointment to the people. Corruption, spiraling prices, rupee devaluation (from Rs 60 in 2207 to Rs 85), escalating prices of sugar, wheat flour, cooking oi, kerosene, petrol, electricity and gas, closure of CNG stations in Sindh and Punjab, gas and electricity rationing, are disconcerting and one feels inclined to laugh at the reconciliation slogan often raised by Mr Zardari. It is hypocrisy (which in local parlance is called muhafimat ki nahi munafiqat kis siyasat).Late Benazir Bhutto learnt from one of Karachi journalists, my colleague and friend Shamim ur Rehman of Dawn, of a policy created by South African President Nelson Mandela about the truth and reconciliation commission; she began parroting it wherever she went. She even wrote a book on reconciliation, which Mr Zardari has cleverly chosen to be his motto to exploit conditions in his favor. The tragedy is that many of our political leaders and politicians have fallen victim to his gimmickry.
Imran made a great speech at the Peshawar rally, also attended and addressed by former minister and PML(N) leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, who once was the live wire of the party but after return home of Nawaz Sharif, has been sidelined, and the PML(Q) outspoken lady Marvi Memon. The Tehrik-i-Insaf chief served a note of warning that if the drone attacks on the poor and innocent citizens of the northern areas were not stopped within one month, the party and his supporters will block the movement of trucks carrying supplies to NATO troops in Afghanistan, and if that failed to work, lead a long march to Islamabad.
This was Imran's appeal to youth, who he has been targeting for almost a decade to build his party of members of the younger generation, looking contemptuously at the ruling clique's uncontrollable corruption stories, which have now reached the prime minister's house and have involved allegedly his son and some family members. It is common knowledge now that in the 2002 elections Imran was promised 9 to 10 National Assembly seats by the then President General Pervez Musharraf. He could have built a platform for himself to look for bigger targets in the power corridors. Imran declined the offer with disdain, saying he would capture 90 seats in the lower house of the Parliament. Musharraf obviously must have laughed at his claim but Imran had miscalculated his strength at that time. Nevertheless he kept working hard for realizing his mission, undaunted by odds, and now the youth is looking up to him to lead them. According to some unconfirmed reports, he is even being considered by the establishment as the successor to the PPP government, either within months or in the 2013 elections.
The fact that Imran managed to galvanize people around him and organized a tremendous rally is something worth taking note of. It should not be dismissed lightly. He has laid the foundation for a movement against a government, which is without doubt incapable and inept, and against whom corruption scandals have woven a net from where an escape for it will be difficult if not altogether impossible.
Imran in the 90s was the first to initiate a campaign against corruption, and till date has kept up pressure against all governments who have been in power. He is leading a crusade against the present PPP regime and his warning of a long march on Islamabad may spell disaster. Whether it materializes or not remains to be seen. But sentiments are high in the NWFP, and to a lesser extent, in other parts of Pakistan. It is a genuine threat and might as well work - who knows.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
