With the rise of Imran Khan, is Pakistani Nationalism reborn?
Pakistan was envisaged and then carved out of British India because majority of the Muslim population considered
itself a separate entity from Hindus. In short, Muslims and Hindus were two
different nations. Iqbal gave the vision and Jinnah laid the foundation of a
Muslim state, first of its kind in modern history, which gained its
independence simultaneously with Hindu-majority India in August 1947.
The ideals were
clear – formation of an Islamic welfare state wherein Muslims lead their lives
according to Islamic principals and minorities enjoy freedom of religion and
expression – but with passage of time these principals got clouded with
confusion and ignorance. Pakistani Muslims considered themselves descendents of
great Muslim dynasties which ruled India for over a century and got
inspiration from their heritage.
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| Imran Khan at Minar-e-Pakistan on 30 Oct 2011 |
With the death of
Jinnah, Quaid-e-Azam, the goals of the Pakistan Movement were quickly forgotten
as fierce struggle for power erupted between politicians and potential despots.
Although the 8-point Objectives Resolution was passed as a model by the
Constituent assembly in 1949, a thoroughly representative constitution
reflective of Pakistani Ideology remained a dream until 1973. It was because
democracy was never allowed to stand on its feet.
The result was
obvious. As the game of musical chairs within power hungry elite continued, uncertainty
and desperation among the people of both East and West
Pakistan grew with each passing day. Short-sightedness of the
dictatorial regimes, unequal distribution of wealth, political alienation, geographical
factors, greed of politicians and ensnaring and monkey business by a neighbour resulted
in the break up of Pakistan.
The East part became Bangladesh,
and although the remaining part stood on its feet again, the uncertainty
regarding its ideological roadmap grew stronger.
The democracy was
derailed after a brief period in which several key steps were taken despite
economic and political instability. The incumbent dictator, for the sole
purposes of longevity of his rule, tried to enforce his agenda by sugar-coating
Pakistan Ideology with rhetoric and shallow idealism. As a result moderate
Islamic philosophy was replaced by hard-line militant mindset.
Eventually the
baton of power went in politicians’ hands but the other end of the string
remained elsewhere. After a tumultuous political tenure spanning almost a
decade, another pseudo-intellectual dictator forced himself into power with a
renewed pledge to make the nation shake hands with prosperity and salvation.
This time the mode
of stealing the people’ right to rule was different. He propagated his secular beliefs
by borrowing a term, enlightened moderation. His sole aim too was to extend his
regime and he did it for 8 years on the pretext of eradicating extremism which
another dictator had promoted for over a decade. The Ideology of Pakistan was
almost done and dusted.
The unholy alliance
of Mullah, Military and Judiciary was finally broken when Justice Iftikhar
Chaudhary said ‘NO” to dictator Pervez Musharraf after he had asked him to
resign in March 2007. After a strong movement led by lawyers’ bodies, he was
reinstated, but was disposed off again along with whole judiciary when
Musharraf declared emergency and suspended constitution in November 2007.
The new political
government which was carved out of NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance)
could not provide the country any stability therefore desperation grew rapidly.
Demise of hope and pride was the biggest loss. With the economic and political
instability growing, the people of Pakistan saw another alliance
emerging between political parties to protect the status quo. The War on terror had its own implications as
it only increased militancy in Pakistan.
The corrupt mafia seemed to line up against the voices of change. The Arab
Spring too was viewed as an inspiration. A revolution was seen as the only hope
by the masses waiting for a messiah.
Imran Khan, despite
spending 15 hard years in political arena, was not viewed by many pundits as a potential
answer, although his support among youth had risen considerably over the years.
Since the launch of his political party in 1996, one saw many ups and downs in
his political career, but two things that stood out were his passion and
sincerity. Even his fierce critics admit that he is an honest man who cannot be
lured or subjugated.
Finally in the
political landscape, he stands tall. Pundits have taken notice and masses have
turned to him. Relying on the vibrant youth, he has a plan to bring real change
in Pakistan.
He hates hypocrisy hence his views are clear and interpretable. Masses like him
because he speaks truth. People trust him because he always fulfilled whatever
he promised to them. Shaukat Khanum
Memorial cancer hospital and NUML
University are prime
examples.
He wants Pakistan to
stand on its feet rather than live on foreign aid. His stance on militancy is
clear – never use military force and segregate militants from those who are not
by negotiating with them. He aims to bring Pakistan’s sovereignty and dignity
back. He wants to eradicate injustice from society. As he once said: “At the
moment we have a ruling class that has one law and the people the other”. Above
all he is fighting the biggest menace according to him, corruption.
He does not put
forward his own ideas or those borrowed from the West. Instead he takes
inspiration from Jinnah and Iqbal. After reinventing himself through spiritual
guidance and adherence to Islamic principals, he has come out with clarity vis-à-vis
Pakistan’s
philosophy. He is neither secular, nor a
mullah. He is a moderate Muslim as the Quaid and Iqbal were. This was brightly
reflected in his breakthrough gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan on 30 October 2011.
The playing of
National anthem, saying Maghreb prayers on
stage, pausing for Azan and people singing and dancing with joy reflect what
Imran Khan is. This is, in fact, what Pakistan is. There is no place for
extremism on our soil. There is no way for theocracy to rule us. Imran provides
the best alternative; in fact he takes us where Jinnah and Iqbal wanted us to.
The way he roared
on stage and people responded to his calls, surely is a cause for concern for
the mafia of status quo and corruption. But he is not going to back away and
neither we, his followers. There is no stopping him now as he said, “Change is
not coming; change has come”.
Whether he wins the
coming elections or not, he has given new spirit to millions of Pakistanis who
otherwise had lost hope and pride. The onus now is on us whether we want to
open a new window and breathe new air or let our lives rust on the mercy of the
ruling elite.
I hope Imran
succeeds and gives us our Jinnah’s Pakistan back.
