But Imran Khan's appeal to the educated middle class also includes his proud embrace of an Islamic identity -- it's not just for the religious poor. The liberal fascists, as we call them, in Pakistan have swallowed the Western caricature of equating "Islamic" with extremist. They are so ashamed of their identity and desperate for Western approval, they cringe with shame every time a Pakistani wears a hijab or has a beard or says the word "Allah hafiz". They are the opposite extreme of the religious extremists, and Imran Khan has sensed the pulse of the nation to steer a middle course between these two extremist groups.
I'll give you a non-Islamic example that we can both identify with. As you know, we eat with our hands. This is our culture, our tradition, and nobody thinks twice about it. When some south Asians go to the West, they feel they have to use cutlery at every occasion and must never use their hands. Watching these hapless souls is always fun. After some time, people realize how silly this is and there is nothing wrong to use our traditions proudly, even in the finest Indian restaurant. (Obviously you wouldn't eat spaghetti with the hands.)
