Imran Khan: Pakistan’s Next PM?

Re: Wasiq and bahmed

I agree with UR, intelligence is not the most important thing at this point, honesty and commitment are. Out of the 3 being talked about, in terms of raw intelligence, BB probably wins hands down...and yet I would argue she would be the worst choice. Heck ZAB was extremely intelligent and look at his record. It does not take a statospheric IQ to address Pakistan`s basic problems;fiscal irresponsibilty, corruption, illeteracy, law and order. What fixing those problems does require is commitment, honesty and a lack of vested interest in the status quo.

Faraz

In response to Faraz (Reply #9):

Is the process of elimination a good way of voting? Haven`t we been chosing the lesser of the two evils? Is it enough? What should we expect (a minimum level) from our politicians to legitimize themselves?

Imran Khan is our national hero. Why he is prepared to risk his good name? I have read some of his articles, they are reasonable but they are not sufficient to win my vote.

If the choice is between the lesser of the two ``evils,`` then I will not cast my vote. I will vote, if the ballot has one more option: None of the above. Finally, a majority vote is not the best way to elect our respresentatives. May be we can adopt some variation of the proportional voting system. A free press would help in the long run.

Pakistan does not need a great political leader. Pakistan needs a leader who is honest (or at least relatively honest), and someone whose personal interests do not conflict with the interests of the country. I would be much happier with an honest playboy than with a dishonest politician of great caliber.

I do not what Imran Khan`s aptitude is as a politician. However a few things are crystal clear. He is much more honest than BB and NS. Also, unlike BB and NS, Imran Khan`s personal interests do not conflict with the interests of Pakistan. Of all the people in the present arena, I think Imran Khan is easily the best choice; simply because he is the most honest (or the least dishonest).

It is surprising to see that people still support NS and BB. Pakistan`s problem isn`t that we have corrupt leaders. All countries face this problem. Pakistan`s problem is that we keep supporting leaders who, beyond a doubt, have shown themselves to be incompotent and corrupt.

The man deserves the public`s support. If for no other reason than a simple process of elimination. We all know Nawaz Sharif goal is to consolidate power and not to develop the country. And honestly, Ras I am amazed that you still cling to the Benazir bandwagon (even the tind is less of thief than her!).

The voters should ask themselves the following question and then make up their minds:

1. Who amongst NS,BB and IK has NOT stolen from their country?

Incidentally, I too saw Imran Khan speak to a small gathering organized by a women`s social action group in Lahore. I must admit I was not blown away by his intellect, but he wasn`t talking total gibberish either. What did inspire me was the genuine commitment and sincerity he seemed to exhibit. It was July, the weather was awful...and here was a man that had been so resoundingly defeated in the last elections...yet he did not seem deterred one bit. Why would he stick with his political ambition when the odds are against him? He doesn`t need recognition, he already has that. Money, he has that too. I would give the guy my vote.

It is time to elect the world leader, and your vote counts. Here are the facts about the three leading candidates:

Candidate A

Associates with crooked politicians, and consults

with astrologers. He`s had two mistresses. He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.



Candidate B

He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college and drinks a quart of whisky every evening.



Candidate C

He is a decorated war hero. He`s a vegetarian, doesn`t smoke, drinks an occasional beer and hasn`t had any extramarital affairs.

Which of these candidates would be your choice?

Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt

Candidate B is Winston Churchill

Candidate C is Adolph Hitler

I rest my case.

Raheel

I think Imran may well be the best we have but his succeeding is a whole different story. Negotiating power with the industrial and landed feudals on one hand and the army on the other is close to impossible in Pakistan. The only way he could succeed is by creating a revolution from the ground up (a peoples revolution). To have the guts to do such a thing in Pakistan is like signing ones own death certificate. But one cannot ignore the possibility of it since it is long overdue and the people of Pakistan definitely deserve a voice. However if a peoples revolution does develop it will probably be the most bloody time in Pakistan`s history. The powers that be will assure that.

Here is my reply...

Chan ik pal nahee,

Chan Ik pal nahee,

Chan ik pal nahee,

Aur koee HUL nahee...

Sayoneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Sayoneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Ras,

Benazir Bhutto? Give me a break man. You need half a brain cell to understand what she is upto. As for Imran I agree to the fact that he might not be the greatest of them all and he might not be the spotless angel we want, but he is the best we have and definately has the capability to deliver the goods. I do agree that BB had the capability too, but her motives were found to be totally different.

Raheel

couldn`t agree more, the kind of politics we have been having in pakistan for a very long time, has driven us to the brink of a disastor.

we simply deny the person who is telling the truth , that i have changed, and instead of looking at his good work and abilities , we look him as a cricket dictator and a womanizer and the crap.

what kind of a nation are we trying to build???

aren`t we building it on the ground of hate and lies, instead of TRUST. we just assume that everyone is bad, why can`t we think the other way ?

the usual reply i get from people is that pakistan can not try other politicians it is a risk?? what kind of risk are they talking about, you must have something to risk it. i think at the moment we have nothing. for the past two decades the politician and feudals have been the termites of pakistan. and the sad part is that no one is trying to solve it, everyone is just closing their eyes ad praying for a miracle to happen.

well to me its about time !!

While choosing between Nawaz Sharif and B.B has begun to seem like choosing between the frying pan and the fire, before everyone jump`s onto Imran`s `honesty, accountability, justice` wagon we need to ask a few questions. Do we really want an x-playboy turned social reformer to be in power? Thats like an x-smoker telling smokers they`re all gonna get cancer and be admitted to his hospital! Gee, thanks. I for one think Pakistan needs honest men, maybe he is one of them, but i certainly don`t feel we need another missionary. Look at the people he`s been associating with, x-ISI (Gul Hamid etc) and fundo types. Sorry Imran, but we`ve already been reconverted to Islam once under Nawaz Sharif, we don`t need YOU of all people telling us to `turn away from the West`, `become righteous` etc. Get lost Imran. Buzz off. Self-righteous arses just ain`t my cupa java. And you`ve got a major bee in your bonnet.

imran khan has a long long way to go yet. lets not be premature in creating another myth in our search for a saviour. the man has yet to prove himself on the political field.i might vote for his party though.

re ras and BB,

i was one of the many who were delighted with BB when she entered the fray, a lot of us pinned many of our hopes on her. but over the last few years she has proved that she is incapable of leading this country into anything but ruin. what is it that makes you so loyal to her?

Imran Khan has not yet learnt to swim with the crocodiles of politics but he has my endorsement
to be a future PM of Pakistan.
Any person who has shown any care for the plight
of the poor people of Pakistan has my ear.
Over the years that I have been writing, I have
never bothered to stay on the path of ``political
correctness`` in Pakistan. And once again I am
openly stating that Benazir Bhutto and Imran
Khan are the the two individuals that have my
support (for whatever it is worth)to help Pakistanis pursue the modern state that they desire and one that the founder of the country had envisioned.
On another note, I have always chosen to support those individuals that the Pakistani establishment
has worked overtime to discredit (while they continue to promote political mediocrity). And on
Benazir especially and then Imran, they have certainly worked their hardest.
But this establishment itself is learning and so are the keen observers of Pakistan in Europe and the USA.

Ras H. Siddiqui