Dear Netters:
The article below is from the Guardian (1 11 2011), its author Declan
Walsh from Islamabad.
I am sure you'll enjoy a little insight into Pakistani politics as it
is today. By the way today I discovered this morning that Guardian has
plenty of articles on Pakistan. Now, the article below:
-bhuban
For a decade Imran Khan has occupied the hinterland, if not quite the
wilderness, of Pakistani politics. The cricket legend has won just one
seat in parliament – his own – and been scorned by critics as a
celebrity windbag at best and a Taliban sympathiser at worst.
But this weekend Khan dramatically transformed his standing at a
stroke, bursting onto the national stage with an impressive show of
street power that jolted Pakistan's largest parties and turned received
wisdom on its head.
At least 100,000 people gathered to hear Khan issue a rousing call to
political "revolution" spiced with strident denunciations of government
corruption.
"Declare your assets or face the wrath of the people," he shouted,
drawing roars of approval, in the largest rally for decades in Lahore,
Pakistan's political heartland.
The crowd reflected the vein that Khan has tapped – young, urban and
mostly educated Pakistanis who have grown disillusioned by the chaotic
politicking and inept governance of the traditional political elite.
"It's an activation of the upper middle class – people who, over the
years, haven't had a voice in Pakistani politics," said political
analyst Mosharraf Zaidi.
In contrast Khan enjoys a reputation for being incorruptible and
straight-talking, polished by a glint of fame. Also in Lahore was his
ex-wife Jemima, who remains a supporter, and Jennifer Robinson, a
London media lawyer whose clients include WikiLeaks founder Julian
Assange. "Yes we Khan," she tweeted afterwards.
The rally set the political scene abuzz with speculation; "Imran's
Lahore rally stuns opponents" read the headline in Dawn. But large
questions loom about whether he can transform his acclaim into power.
Despite his claims of a "revolution" against President Asif Ali
Zardari, Khan is more likely to hurt Nawaz Sharif, the opposition
leader who considers Lahore his political base. Sunday's rally crowned
a wave of smaller yet well-attended rallies across the surrounding
Punjab province over the past three months.
"It's been slowly taking root. People are getting disillusioned, they
saw Imran as more dynamic and focused," said Najam Sethi, a veteran
journalist and analyst.
National elections are not scheduled until 2013, although a midterm
Senate election next March – which is likely to see the Pakistan
People's party led by Zardari seize control of the upper house of
parliament – has caused the political temperature to soar.
Electoral success for Khan would likely fracture politics further – a
prospect that would please Pakistan's spymasters and generals, who have
traditionally liked their civilian leaders both shaken and stirred.
Khan has faced accusations that his new-found popularity is being
quietly boosted by the military, and his Lahore speech was notable for
his lack of criticism of the army. Khan denies any link. "I think Imran
and the army will get along very well – if he ever comes to power,"
said Sethi. He entered politics in 1996 as one of the most loved public
figures in a cricket-crazy nation, and the founder of a cancer hospital
that remains one of Pakistan's most respected charities.
But his politics have been more controversial. He supported Pervez
Musharraf's coup in 1999, sided with Islamist mullahs and, in 2009,
opposed an army operation against the Taliban in the Swat valley,
arguing it was better to talk than fight. He boycotted the 2008
election, a move that relegated him to the chat show fringe of politics.
But in recent years he has steadily built his popularity among young
Pakistanis, capitalising on disillusionment with political corruption
and anger at US drone strikes in the tribal belt.
His Lahore rally echoed many of those themes. Pakistan wanted
"independence, not slavery" in its relations with the US, he said,
before announcing that he would be leaving for China hours later. "I am
leaving at the invitation of the Chinese government. Friendship with
them will be pursued to the fullest," he said.
But critics said that while his speech was high on inflammatory
rhetoric – including gratuitous attacks at some rivals and one diplomat
– it was lacking in concrete prescriptions. "His next challenge is to
show that he understands Pakistan's problems – and can formulate policy
to deal with them" said Zaidi.
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