How Pakistan's Imran Khan taps anti-Americanism to fuel political rise

[U-571]

if this guy can deliver, than i will like to support and vote hi but i think imran is hot air balloon, neither he will get enough support, nor he is capable to make strong policies and do as he speaks

 

[Ajaxpaul]

What if PTI is tapping into anti american sentiments ?. Its what all political parties do. Why is it their fault? The fault is with the current leadership who has given a free hand to the Americans and now crying like losers.

 

[ahsanraza81]

majority of our country men(esp. rural areas) cast vote to people who don't even deserve...

 

[lem34]

I have never been a great supporter of Imran but I must say that if you give any credit to the wikileaks leaks it did suggest that he was the only pakistani politician whose comments in private chime with what imran says in public. PPP nad PNL have had a number of chances and proved beyond any doubt that they are incompetent and corrupt. So compared to them I think Imran would do a better job. Maybe he should be given a chance to run the country. He cant do worse than the theiving retards that we have had so far.

 

[IceCold]

Imran is the future. Rest are all history. However the troubling part is the last paragraph of the article. Quoting "The professional middle classes and youth may have a big presence in the mainstream and social media, he says, “but historically, those who comprise his support base are the people who never bother to vote.” This is very true and indeed very worrisome. Even if i look at myself individually, i havent voted for GOD knows how many elections. If the young generation doesn't come out, Pakistan's future will remain dark and we will continue to see the same old corrupt thugs again and again, one form(ppp) or the other(pml n).

 

[Leader]

if this guy can deliver, than i will like to support and vote hi but i think imran is hot air balloon, neither he will get enough support, nor he is capable to make strong policies and do as he speaks

aik marasi ne Chaudhry se uski beti ka rishta manga, Chaudhry ne usko wawa phenta lagya...., kafi mar kha ker jab woh janay laga to Chaudhry se pochaa.... "te fir mien inkar hi samjhan?"

 

[Leader]

majority of our country men(esp. rural areas) cast vote to people who don't even deserve...

according to latest statistics Urban population is almost now equal to the Rural areas, many rural leaders have turned to PTI as well.... things dont happen over night in politics, its a process and PTI is in this process of making...

 

[iPhone]

The other day DAWNs NFP let his ever building frustration out at khan by calling his supporters "a cult." A cult is a very limited set of people not a vast majority which Khan has in 68% of country's population.

And now we have another gem of a writer comparing Khan to Sarah Palin. SP is a sorry execuse for a human being let alone a politician. A stupid, dumb, ignorant bimbo and that's being polite. She has to struggle to appear smart with her mouth closed, god forbid when she has to open it to talk. Imran on the other hand is a very articulated, educated man.

Anyway its good Imran is causing so much heartburn to this beghairat brigade. Watch him win and burn arseholes.

 

[Leader]

^^ Beghairat brigade is there to boost our morale, the more they ridicule the more we grow... until their jaws will drop !!

 

[SHEIKH ELAHI]

I am writing this letter in response to the recent article, “Anti-Americanism fuels Imran’s political rise”by Issam Ahmed. I do not agree to the conclusion in this article that Imran’s recent approval rating of 68 percent, making him Pakistan’s most popular politician is a result of any anti American policies. What made Imran a popular in the country is his strict and uncompromising stand against corruption that is affecting the common man. What earned him respect in recent years was his uncompromising support for the movement of justice. People respect his stand that rule of law should be enforced and everyone should be accountable. His principled stance against traditional corrupt politician made him emerge as people’s choice. It is because of his vision of progressive ,developed ,independent Pakistan ,it is his message of hope that resonates with common man that makes him the most popular man in Pakistan.


There is no doubt that he often speaks against drone attacks which he considers attack on the sovereignty of the country. But Imran has no sympathies for the terrorists who are responsible for thousands of civilian and military casualties. Instead he is concerned over death of innocent civilians, regarded as collateral damage by others. These drone attacks are not good for US either as death of innocent civilians cause hatred towards US and this in turns creates anti US sentiments among the families of victims and their sympathizers. This creates more terrorists who pick up arms to avenge deaths of their family members. US often expresses desire to have good relationship with people of Pakistan but drone attacks strain its image among Pakistani.

US prides itself in the rule of law and such drone attacks are against the international rules as targeting and executing without due process is very Un-American and it is clear violation of the human values that America stands for. US practice of using circumstantial evidence, such as pattern of life analysis or tangential interaction with the militants makes it more likely that innocent civilians are often harmed in these strikes. These attacks, against international laws, send wrong message and creates bad impression of America. Although, some of these drone attacks may be successful in eliminating some terrorist targets, US should realize these attacks put its key ally in a difficult situation. Short term benefits are hurting long term relationship between the two nations. Relationship between Pakistan and America should be of partners against common enemy.

Imran believes that there is an immediate need for a “Complementary Strategy” that can benefit both US and Pakistan. He believes that there is an immediate need to make an adjustment in the current US policy towards Pakistan.He strongly believe only solution to current issue is a political solution. Current shift in US policy proves that he was right all along .While Imran may disagree with some of current US government policies but he is great friend of American people and shares the values that American cherish so much . He wants to create a corruption free society where rule of law is supreme. He strongly believes that no one should be above the law. He believes in power to the people. Political leaders who have exploited common man for decades are scared of Imran’s popularity as they are bound to lose their grip on power. He wants believes in American dream amd strongly believe people of Pakistan are entitle to same dream and opportunities In a country governed by corrupt politicians and military dictators since its independence, Imran may be the only ray of hope.

Imran is gaining popularity as a he has more accomplishments to his credit than anyone in the country. He is a great administrator and has proved that he can deliver results. Winning World Cup, creating and running free cancer hospital for poor, developing world class university in an under developed area and selfless help for flood victims are some of the achievements of Imran. People look up to him as a statesman capable of steering nation out of this current situation. He is seen as only leader with a spotless past who has been able to deliver in the past and has a great vision for Pakistan. And that is the main reason that he has emerged as the most popular leader in the country.

Sheikh Zakir Elahi
Advisor to Chairman PTI Imran Khan
Political and planning Affairs

 

[Kompromat]

How Pakistan's Imran Khan taps anti-Americanism to fuel political rise

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan is to Pakistan what Sarah Palin is to the US: controversial, and, arguably, a force to be reckoned with.

Islamabad, Pakistan
Imran Khan once won glory for his country as its most successful cricket captain. After making an unspectacular debut into Pakistani politics as leader of the Movement for Justice party 15 years ago, he positioned himself as a maverick outsider calling for sweeping reform within Islamabad’s murky corridors of power.

Now, it looks as though he might be about to make a comeback on the wave of anti-American sentiment that's sweeping the country.

Mr. Khan's political life appears to be experiencing a new high thanks in part to his unique brand of anti-Americanism, which finds support among Pakistan’s professional classes, youth, and women.

According to research carried out by Pew polling in Pakistan, he enjoys a 68 percent approval rating, making him Pakistan’s most popular politician, up from 52 percent last year. The relationship between the United States and Pakistan, meanwhile, has sunk to new lows in recent months, following the Osama bin Laden raid and the release of a CIA agent who killed two Pakistani citizens.

Long derided as a non-serious candidate in an electoral system dominated by two major parties, Khan surprised political pundits last month by attracting thousands of supporters to a major protest in the northwestern city of Peshawar against US drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas, before going on to stage a sit-in to “symbolically block” NATO supply lines for Afghanistan that pass through the port city of Karachi.

With his good looks and seeming willingness to speak plainly, Khan is to Pakistan what Sarah Palin is to the US: controversial, an antidote to current administration, and, some say, a force to be reckoned with.

American officials in Islamabad concede they are watching him closely, and Khan’s antics often dominate local news coverage. But while Khan’s rising stature may be indicative of rising anti-American sentiment among Pakistan’s educated classes, analysts still aren’t convinced of how seriously to take him.

“The whole world knows that an accused is innocent until a court says you are guilty. He who takes the law into his own hand and kills is himself a terrorist,” he said at the Peshawar rally, referring to US forces.

Such rhetoric is common among Islamist hard-liners and religious party leaders, but Khan’s urbane appeal as a former cricketer who won international acclaim means he can reach a wider, less religious audience and position himself as the acceptable face of anti-Americanism, says Badar Alam, editor of Pakistan’s Herald Magazine.

When mullahs talk, people don't stop to listen. "But when a Western educated clean-shaven man does the same, it does suit them,” Mr. Alam says of Khan, who was educated at Oxford and maintained a reputation as a playboy throughout his cricketing career, before his nine-year marriage with British heiress Jemima Goldsmith.

Khan has what the US wants

Khan’s support base of Pakistan’s middle class, women, and the youth (who make up 70 percent of the country) are exactly the groups the US has targeted in its battle to win hearts and minds in Pakistan.

The country’s youth are particularly rapt by Khan, who appeals to their sense of national pride, says columnist Fasi Zaka.

“The youth of this country think politics is entirely rubbish,” he says. Therefore, Khan’s message of bringing about a "revolution" appeals to young people turned off by traditional politics.

Another part of Khan’s appeal is his squeaky-clean reputation in a country where allegations of corruption are rampant. His Shaukat Khanum hospital, established in memory of his mother, is regarded as one of the best in the country. Last year he was active in fundraising after the worst flooding to hit the country. And in 2008 he set up a college in his home district of Mianwali. “When compared to the other personalities in Pakistani politics, he is a saint,” says Mr. Zaka.

He’s also known for being a straight shooter.

According to a US embassy cable leaked by the whistle-blower website Wikileaks, Khan made “often pointed and critical statements on US policy, which he characterized as dangerous and in need of change” in a meeting with former US Ambassador Anne Patterson last year. That’s in stark contrast to other leaders like Nawaz Sharif, the country’s main opposition leader, and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, its most powerful Islamist party leader – both known for their hostile stances toward the US in public. Leaked US embassy cables showed their tone in private meetings to be far more conciliatory, to the point of fawning.

Though his party has never won more than one seat (his own) in previous elections, Khan is treated by the media as one of a handful of top political leaders, and was offered the position of prime minister in 2002 by former military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf, according to his former wife.

What critics say

With his oft-stated desire for the Pakistani state to cut deals with, rather than fight, the Pakistani Taliban, Khan found himself out of touch with the public as it began to heavily back the Army in its fight against the Taliban after 2009.

Critics say that Khan's penchant for citing the US as the only major factor behind terrorism in Pakistan is flawed, if ridiculous. He once stated that if the US left Afghanistan, he could end all terror in 90 days, says Alam, the editor. Khan has also been accused of being simple-minded – he has long been a vociferous supporter of Pakistan’s Chief Justice Ifthikar Chauhdry, while at the same time advocating for the traditional Pashtun jirga courts, which often push harsh and collective punishments.

As with Sarah Palin, he elicits polarizing reactions.

But with trust in America at a fresh nadir and his own career back on track, Khan has a unique opportunity. At present, his popularity eclipses main opposition leader Nawaz Sharif (63 percent) and even Pakistan’s Army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani (52 percent), whose ratings have suffered as the Army has come in for criticism following the fallout from the Bin Laden raid.

So does America need to be wary?

With elections still two years away, Alam says he and others remain skeptical. The professional middle classes and youth may have a big presence in the mainstream and social media, he says, “but historically, those who comprise his support base are the people who never bother to vote.”

How Pakistan's Imran Khan taps anti-Americanism to fuel political rise - CSMonitor.com


Imran Khan supporters, be happy.