Most people are quite jubiliant over recent in-roads into the NWFP and
the National Assemblies by Tehrik-e-Insaaf. Nawabzada Mohsin Ali
Khan, General Mujib, Mr F.K. Bandial, Mr. Roedad Khan and others
have already joined or are about to join Tehrik-e-Insaaf, in return
for top posts within the party. Yet, all this can hardly be seen as anything but the demise of
Tehrik-i-Insaaf as we knew (and loved?) it.


Imran Khan's Tehrik-i-Insaf was the first political party not formed through
feudal or government support. It distinguished itself as the political party
for the poor, for the educated, for those fighting for equality and justice.
Unfortunately, we the people bashed it down in the 1997 National and
Provincial Assembly elections.


Given the new developments, does Imran Khan's Party really symbolize "new
blood" in a 50-year old political system? Or has the transfusion of tainted, decrepit haemoglobin officially and permanently diseased what was seen by many as the last hope for Pakistani Politics?