Re: Imran Khan to TI party workers: " Desert me if I ever go back on my principles"
Here are my thoughts on Imran Khan.
He was a fantastic cricketer. He was a great fund-raiser and used his fame for the benefit of mankind (Shaukat Khanum Hospital). He is a born-again muslim (I suppose) who is a straight talker.
Now, here is the bitter part about Imran.
He is unwise. He does not understand politics. He does not have any realistic plans for success (just a running commentary on problems). And worst of all, he is doomed to be in opposition till the day he dies, or until he figures out the following simple truth about Pakistan.
In Pakistan, being in opposition is like living the life of a kutta. No body cares what you say, what you do and whether you are right or not. Pakistan is not not like advanced democracies in the West where opposition is valued and their voice is important. In Pakistan, those in government do not care what opposition says. Those in opposition, can do zilch for their supporters. Most important, if you are in opposition, you can not do ANYTHING for the people. The only time people in oppostion get any respect is if they can demonstrate that they can actually come to power at some point. Not so with Imran Khan.
Now, here is what Imran Khan should have done, or should do, if he ever wants to have more than one elected member from his party.
Learn a lesson from ZA Bhutto and how PPP was established in late-60's. How Bhutto went through the entire interior Sindh to establish relationships with influential leaders. The relationships Bhutto created in mid-60's are still the core of PPP's support and will bring BB to power once again in 2008. Imran Khan should establish grass-roots campaign and infrastructure. Establish relationships with people at the local level. Its difficult. Its time-consuming. Its draining. And its risky. He will have to deal with people of various opinions, and various mind-sets. How he convinces them to support him, and how he adapts to reality at the grass-roots level will determine how well he does in a future election.
Imran Khan needs to come up with a plan of success. A plan of hope for the people. In early 70's, it was "roti, kapra aur makaan - maang raha hai harr insaan" that clinched it for Bhutto and PPP. It was a wonderful slogan. Identifying the problem, as well as giving solution (just rhetorical, of course) and hope to all people. Yes, PPP never really delivered on their promises, but thats besides the point. A leader should give hope to his people.
Just acting like an angry young man (Amitabh Bachan of mid-70's) is not going to win Imran Khan any elections.
Most importantly, Imran Khan should reevaluate his close relationship with religious parties. They can doom whatever election hopes he may have. They can never carry him to any electoral victory. In the modern time, they are like plague. Even if they win more electoral victories, they can not afford to carry a former play-boy in their folds. Its a marriage-of-inconvenience at multiple levels. Get a divorce. Right away.
What Imran says about Waziristan and about corruption and good governance, makes sense. But what he needs to understand is that to be effective he has to be in government. Just yip yapping all the time as a lame opposition leader is not going to get anything accomplished.
Simple. Bitter. Truth.