Interview: Imran Khan on Elections and Boycott

QUESTION: Do you think ceding grounds in elections is a good idea when none of the other parties have done so? Elections, however watered down are an expression of people's will and should not be conceded in the manner that you have? How will you be able to fight for Pakistan peoples' rights without officially being part of the new government?

IMRAN KHAN: The decision to boycott was taken after a full day deliberation of the Central Executive. With the judiciary and every other institution subordinated to one person, the elections results are a foregone conclusion; an assembly tailored to provide indemnity to all actions of Musharraf. He can’t afford anything less. We expect other parties to see the truth and not be led astray from the fundamental issue of the restoration of Judiciary by the election fever. The new assembly will be as effective as the previous one and participating in elections will only give legitimacy to an illegal action.

QUESTION: Now that jamiat e tulaba has shown its true colors, do you still have any notions of anti military alliance with them?

IMRAN KHAN: I suppose you mean the JI of which IJT is a part. To start with we never had an alliance with them or any other party. The APDM is a forum where we are trying to bring all opposition parties together on a single point agenda of the restoration of judiciary. We would work together with all who agree.

QUESTION: Imran, you have said that if you wanted to be a puppet PM, you could have taken that post long time ago. While it is noble, most people think that your sincerity and your unflinching stance is a liability as a politician. That is, an honest politician is either an oxymoron or a person out of a job. Should you not make some political compromises to get into power for the sake of implementing your ideas for the larger good of Pakistan?

IMRAN KHAN: If we were to do politics the way it has been in the past then how can we bring about a change in the system which is totally controlled by the Establishment. Have those who came through the system brought any change for the good of Pakistan? We have taken the long route to power politics by relying only on the people. Only through awareness and active participation by the civil society can a cultural change in our national politics come about. Our ideas (corruption, 1997 & Independent judiciary) have been accepted though not implemented, so we have been able to do something for the good of the country even without being in power.

QUESTION: You have taken solid stances on many issues. What is your position on non Muslim minorities which are targeted and whose religious freedoms are at times under stress. In particular what is your position on horrible discrimination that is meted out to the Ahmadi minority despite their solid contributions to Pakistan?

IMRAN KHAN: In a society sans justice the weaker segments are the first casualties. Minorities, women and the poor will continue to be discriminated against unless there is a rule of Law. Starting with this, our manifesto fully supports the rights of minorities and we hope to be in the forefront for any such struggle. Making separate laws or provisions are pointless if the fundamentals can’t be implemented.

QUESTION: One of the real threats to Pakistan is the disenfranchisement of people in Balochistan and NWFP. And, either as a cause of it, or separately, a significant rise in militancy. How do you see the situation unfolding given the current political landscape and continued U.S. pressure on Pakistan to "do more."

IMRAN KHAN: Yes the threat is internal and inflamed by a lack of representative government. Militancy was also encouraged by the Agencies during and after the Afghan War for Jihad in Kashmir. The solution obviously lies in having a true sovereign state first and then providing autonomy to the provinces as envisaged in the 1973 constitution; in letter and spirit. We have been victims of terrorism long before 9/11.and now we are suffering more due to a new form of militancy generated by the US war on terror on our western border. Where we truly differ from the Americans is the execution of anti terrorism plans. The US is promoting a single track military option whereas we would advance a political solution first and keep the threat of military action in reserve.

QUESTION: In U.S., the two major parties rule the political roost. Ralph Nader and Ross Perot are the only two Independent candidates that have made a small ripple. What plans do you have to not get relegated to the political backwaters of Pakistan and to make a huge splash. That is, how do you intend to increase your vote bank by fighting the current system where people vote for our major parties based on their caste, creed and their background?

IMRAN KHAN: We have already been able to build our vote bank. Before announcing the boycott we had about 300 applicants for assembly seats, which is an indication that our party ticket carries electoral value. Several polls by independent agencies have also indicated an increase of popularity of PTI, especially in Punjab and NWFP. Our “contact the people campaign” of tours by IK, started in November 2006 and is continuing with very positive results.

QUESTION: A common perception is that PTI is synonymous with Imran Khan. There is not much decentralization of power. What steps are you taking to treat PTI as Shaukat Khanam where you are building an institution that is not dependent upon a single individual?

IMRAN KHAN: The perception has some grounds because there are no high profile 2nd tier leaders. However, we are a truly decentralized party with powers to all office bearers. Our constitution is on our website for info and we follow it in letter and spirit.