The Battle for Pakistan

I have a great deal of respect for Khan Sahib.

Have had the opportunity to cover a number of

his visits to Northern California over the years.

The only wish I have had is that he would stay away

from Pakistani politics and continue on with his mission

to improve Pakistan's Cricket Team, Build Hospitals and

work to improve the lives of Pakistani youth.

To step into the cesspool of Pak politics, you have to

have a thick skin and (now) a bullet/bomb proof vehicle.

You have to have "Jiyalas" who are ready to answer your

call. You have to be able to play in the dirt.

And most important of all, you have to have a party

behind you which can win elections.

These ingredients are still missing and the TI just

cannot measure up today.

The best thing for Khan Sahib to do at present is to

join a mainstream party and try to reform things from

inside.

Best of luck to Imran Khan, the builder of hospitals

and inspirer of Pakistani youth.

I am still not sure if politics is your game!

Ras

I can't remember where I read this but, apparently, during the heady days of uprising against him, Ayub Khan had Maudoodi pulled off somewhere around Pindi, while on a trip, and had him hauled to the President's House. Counselling him patronizingly on the errors of the ways of the politicians, he earnestly offered: "politics is a dirty cesspool Maulana Sahib. It is not for people like you".

"You mean that it should be allowed to remain a cesspool?", remarked Maudoodi ...

Ras,
It is unfortunate when we hear from relatively educated that people should stay away from politics. Politics in its true sense is a public service like any other social service. Imran khan feels that he can serve Pakistan better by taking part in politics.

Instead of supporting people like Imran who stand up to these goons, you end up supporting the goons when you advise Imran to not take epart in Politics.

There have been widespread condemnation of Islami Jamiat all over the Net and in Pakistan. I think he is doing his part as a Pakistani. We may not agree with his political views but then how many we agree with anyway.

"You mean that it should be allowed to remain a cesspool?", remarked Maudoodi ...

Maudoodi sure was part of the cesspool.

Re: # 20 HP

You are entitled to your opinion. This is a free country.

Imran Khan is a truly courageous Paki as events in the last few days have proved. May god give him the strength and will to overcome this tough period.

anil #12 You write that you told Imran Khan "Use your strengths where you can make the difference, and bring the World Cup of female empowerment, education reforms to Pakistan."

I too had the opportunity to meet him once. Interestingly enough, I had exactly the same (unsolicited) advice to give him as you did, except I phrased it as a question (i.e. why not focus his energies on schools and hospitals rather than politics). His answer was that in order to get anything done in Pakistan you have to be politically strong - not a convincing answer, as Edhi's example as proved.

Having said that - I think he is right on in joining in this struggle. This struggle for democracy is not politics as usual. It is in the same league as education or health - i.e. working for a better future. That is why so many people who are least interested in Pakistanis politics (Human Rights Workers, Lawyers, Expats, and even non-Pakistanis like Jemima Khan in UK and the Americal legal community) have been inspired by the Chief Justice, the true Horatio at the bridge.

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Laddu,

(As an idolator my nukes are ready for you!! )

A better, cheaper and more eco-friendly option would be to set up convents all along the GT Road from Wagah to Panipat!!!

Regards

Imran Khan is admired by the educated idealist class of Pakistan. These are knowledgeable people, but unfortunately, never come out on the streets preferring to discuss most events from a laptop or drawing room.

Imran has made serious errors of judgements in the past like:
1. Supporting Musharraf.
2. Joining APDM and then being betrayed by Fazal and now Jamaat.
3. Should have involved APDM in the Universiry protest.
4. Failing to fill the vacuum created by the absence of BB and NS.

Being a loner, he remains Imran the Idealist. He single handily built a hospital and would no doubt continue to come up with more projects like the university etc. For social work he can build an efficient team because he pays them well, they will not follow him in the same stead when it comes to politics.

It is a fact that Imran the idealist has no street power or he would have not met the type of reception he got at the university, nor he can galvanise other parties to join his cause. It is also a fact, that he is the most honest, straight forward and charismatic politician around. So why this disconnect?

The disconnect lies in the mindset of Pakistani Politics. All major parties consider him a threat and so does the establishment. His high ideals prevent him to behave the way they do and therefore he remains alone. Whenever a chance comes, this mindset of 1935 will stab him.He now has enemies in all major political parties like PPP, MQM, JUI, JI and the establishment.

Perhaps those who criticise him for his lack of agenda have not gone through his web site.

Hope for pakistan

There is a news item that malaysian airlines is planning to "tunku" food, the preferred food of the father of malaysia. Here is a suggestion from a pakistani to have jinnah food on PIA.

What will that be, Gin and pork, and that would be atrue haram for the islamic republic. This shows the ignorence of teh andul paki about their own leader.

From dawn of today


Our leadership always tries to simulate the Malaysian model of progress, but when we compare our civil liberties, law and order, public services, i.e. health care, transport, education, civic and recreation facilities, behaviour of social elites, quality of life and performance of police, we cut a sorry figure before the comity of nations.

We may not be able to compete in other areas, but at least our national carrier PIA can take the lead and take to air gastronomic favourites of our Father of the Nation, corresponding to his Indian and European preferences.

Should the proposition be deemed viable, the scheme may be launched after proper research and not in haste, keeping in view the stature of the leader.

tahmed (the peon of the West) writes "His answer was that in order to get anything done in Pakistan you have to be politically strong - not a convincing answer, as Edhi's example as proved."

Your question was based on your worship of all things Western, you do not want anyone making inroads into politics who has an anti-American/pro-people stance. Edhi has proven absolutely nothing. All his efforts have not even made a tiny dent in the poverty and deprivation of the Pakistani public becuase these problems, systemic problems, require systemic and not private solutions, and the only way to do that is by acquiring a position of power at the state. Imran's only problem is his naivety in believing that he could convert his popularity in cricket (due to an apathetic public interested in games and distraction) into popularity in the political field (where apathy is a curse not a blessing)- the best way for him to move forward would have been through established paths, like the ZAB and then strike at the right time- as an independant he will amount to nothing, not for the country and not even for his own kids- so he needs to do some serious thinking while in prison.

On the other hand peons of the West and leeches like tahmed need to leave our politics alone. Just because I agree with him regarding Musharraf being a sob, does not mean we agree for the same reason. He detests Musharraf becuase Musharraf has fallen out of favor with the US elite, before when Musharraf was in their support he said not a single word against him, I detest Musharraf because he is a military dictator who is part of the problem that is destroying political institutions and civil society in our country. There is a big difference between our views. Know your enemy, the peon of the West who claims to be all caring and lovey dovey about the Pakistanis but is actually stabbing them in the back.

I like Imran, he is a true muslim, and he believes in polygamy. He does not entertain the idea of child support, which again is islamic. That is about all, that makes Imran a true pakistani.

The Jamiat leadership was thrown out of PU, my sources tell me that the rank and file of them among the studets is quite distraught, this "move" to hand Imran to the police will affect their future membership, their offices were ransacked and the strength of numbers was much greater than any the Jamiat mustered.

Masadi sahib,

Why has the Jamaat fallen out with IK, both of them are anti-WOT and anti-Mush right?

Regards

Imran,

You are also a true paki elite. You do have the view that jihadis are in response to poverty and lack of governance. Read some of hoodboy articles and find out for yourself ahat is taught in schools, the govt schools, the k for kafir education. That is what is creating a support base for the jihadis among the ilks of tahmed and ylh and you, who refuse to accept the core reason for the jihadis.