I support Imran Khan

The rural creeps (PML-Q), the Urban Creeps (MQM) and the military creeps have all come under the flag of Musharraf. It has become easier to identify and eliminate them once for all.

By Usman Khalid

I do not know Imran Khan personally; I have never met him. But after he was roughed up at the Punjab University Campus by the Islami students, I am sure that he is the right leader for Pakistan . Until November 3, Mian Nawaz Sharif was the only politician who had not just been indicted but also convicted for being a terrorist. Now we have many heroes, all incarcerated accused of being "˜terrorists'. The "˜war on terror' is going wonderfully well in Pakistan . The credentials of Mian Nawaz Sharif have suffered a blow because he was merely "˜deported' when he returned to Pakistan . Imran Khan was not just arrested for being a terrorist', he was arrested by the Jamiat i Tulaba i Islam "“ no less "“ and handed over to the police. No one can accuse the 'eligious parties' for being terrorists or the allies of terrorists; they can find and arrest the terrorists that the police cannot "“ indeed dare not! Well done! America will reward you. Now the serious point!

The founder of Pakistan - Quaid e Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah "“ could not speak Urdu; he was fluent in English and he was often pleading the case of the Muslims against the Hindus to the British in an exercise the purpose of which was obscure and language even more obscure for most of his followers. Yet he enjoyed the trust of more Muslims in the world than ever before or even ever since. Why? It was because he was constantly attacked by every kind of creep in the land. He was understandably reviled by all the Hindu creeps led by (Mahatma) Gandhi but he was also the target the religious creeps.  We, the Muslims of India, did not understand what he was doing or saying but we saw that whatever it was, it was upsetting all those creeps so much that they were constantly attacking him. In fact, their attacks continue even sixty or so years after his death. If in doubt, ask the enemy! That is a sterling principle. Judging by who are the enemies of Imran Khan, he must be doing the right thing. Judging by how vicious are the attacks on him, he must be a person with courage and integrity that the creeps fear so much.

Pakistan has all kinds of creeps; they have proliferated under Musharraf rule. The way Musharraf appears on TV after promulgating his PCO setting aside the Constitution and insists that he has the greatest respect for law and the constitution, he outperforms every creep there ever was. All his seventy ministers "“ from Shaukat Aziz through Durrani to Wasi Zafar and Sher Afgan "“ exude creepiness. The leaders of the party of creeps "“ the so called Kings Party "“ the Chaudhries of Gujrat "“ represent the all pervasiveness of creepiness that is the hallmark of Musharraf rule. They never tired of insisting they will get Musharraf elected in uniform as the President again and again. They were true to their word. Whatever it took to do that "“ dismissal of all of the high judiciary and closing down of all the TV news channels (Pakistani or foreign) "“ they endorsed by their vote. The neutrality of the bureaucracy was destroyed under the rule of Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and has never been restored; Musharraf has since neutered the legislative branch, and more importantly the judiciary. He wants more time so that he can also destroy the institution of "˜promotion by merit' even in the armed forces.

The filthiest class of creeps that ever got deployed as a force of political power anywhere ever is the MQM. Musharraf is known within the MQM as a sector commander. The press of Pakistan , which is largely free, has never dared to reveal the truth that it is the "˜Mohajir Mafia' that rules Pakistan . Musharraf is now the leader of three mafias "“ the military mafia, the Mohajir mafia and the rural Punjab mafia headed by the Chaudhries. For those unfamiliar with the politics of South Asia , the broad categories of social divisions must be understood first. Apart from religion, which unites rather than divides, three things divide the society: 1) caste, 2) urban vs rural, 3) links with the Government. Much of South Asia under British rule was rural where big land lords held sway. After independence political power came to those who won elections. Big land lord got more money and power from the new system than they could handle. Wanton display of unearned wealth was resented by the poor and the rebellion was organised on caste lines.

 The Chaudhries, for example, are poor Jats, who got money from links with crime and influence through links with the Government. The feudal elite eclipsed as it became impoverished. This gave rise to caste based political parties in India while in Pakistan, cross links between caste and class led to a more level society. The largest segment of the society where such cross links helped ethnic integration and egalitarianism is the armed forces. The members of the armed forces look upon themselves as superior to all others because their hallmark is courage, integrity and dignity. In Hindu India, the social yardstick continued to be the "˜caste'. The Brahmins with other high castes continued to dominate politics, the bureaucracy, the military, the professions, trade and commerce. In Pakistan , the rise of criminals in the political class gave the military a chance. Different leaders made different allies in different eras. General Ayub Khan aligned himself with trade and industry. Bhutto nationalised all major trade and industry and made too many enemies almost in every class without really organising a party of the working class which is perhaps what he wanted. Benazir and Nawaz Sharif alternated in power for a decade; the former extended to big land lords and the latter to big industrialists. It is under Musharraf that the criminals of the political class have come to get complete control of all the levers of power.

Musharraf had a choice. Being from the military, he could have chosen people with courage, integrity and dignity. A number of us - including myself and Imran Khan "“ believed that was the case. But Musharraf decided to lead the political class. In that decision, he was influenced by his ethnic identity. He is a Mohajir and he did not mind joining the creeps who have organised the most formidable mafia in Pakistan . But all such decisions have dynamics of their own. By opting for the MQM, Musharraf opted to be an outlaw; he has violated the law and the Constitution and has gone against every code of honour and ethics. There is no turning back for him. But the route for Pakistan to return to the 'ule of law' is well marked and well lit. It requires a person with courage, integrity and dignity who can lead a return to the 'ule of law'. Imran Khan has been chosen "“ not by me but by the enemies of our state. By selecting him for being beaten up, to be charged with being a terrorist, beating up even his women supporters including his sisters, Musharraf has told us who we should trust. MQM have spoken already. We trust the one they hate and fear the most. That is Imran Khan.

America is on a cross roads internationally as well as internally. It has a creep "“ Dick Cheney - as its Veep. Both the front runners in the race to be President of the US next years are big time creeps. From having a creep for a Veep, it is going to elect the Queen of Creeps as President. That kind of America would like to replace Musharraf with the Queen of Creeps. That is not much of a future to look forward to. But I am still hopeful. The rural creeps (PML-Q), the Urban Creeps (MQM) and the military creeps have all come together under the flag of Musharraf. It has become easier to identify and eliminate them once for all. Imran, you know the task that lies ahead!

The writer is the Director Lonbdon Institute of South Asia (www.lisauk.com)