Game Changer or Puppet? Indian, Pak Dailies Sketch Out Imran Khan

We’ve curated opinions on the PTI chief from both sides of the border.

Pakistani politician Imran Khan, chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

(Photo: AP)

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan whose party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is leading in 119 seats after the country’s general elections on Wednesday, 25 July, ruled the front pages of every major newspaper in Pakistan and India.

Khan’s main rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or PML-N is trailing behind with 67 seats as trends indicate a possible hung parliament. Meanwhile, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) took lead in 41 seats, indicating he could be the kingmaker in case of a hung Assembly.

The election was also marred by a deadly blast in Quetta and allegations of rigging votes against PTI, with opposing parties questioning the electoral conduct.

While one end of the border saw dailies dishing out cricket analogies and talking about Imran Khan heralding a ‘Naya Pakistan’, the other side – Indian dailies spoke about how Imran Khan taking a lead spelled victory for Pakistan’s Army.

Here’s a look at what Indian and Pakistani newspapers have to say about Khan.

Imran’s Pakistan Beckons

“WE are on the brink of a new Pakistan,” read The Dawn’s front page analysis, which highlights PTI’s impressive gains specially in the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stretch. The English daily also points out the way ahead for Imran Khan and rules out the possibility of an alliance between PTI and PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party).

“This PTI success marks a new era. Imran’s struggle was avowedly to end the domination of not just one party but he sought to correct a whole system that had been exploited. The main culprits in his book were the Pakistan Peoples Party and the PML-N. In some of his recent remarks he made it quite clear that he was allergic to the idea of having to enter into an alliance with the PPP of Asif Zardari, who to the PTI cadres is epitome of all that is bad in the country.”

On Elections 2018

In one about the Pakistani voters and their political leanings, The Nation’s opinion piece charts out the anti-incumbency and the reasons for Imran Khan’s rise.

“Unlike the previous elections, PTI appeared to be focusing aggressively on Lahore to prove a point. By the time this column is published, the Pakistani nation would know if “change” was in the offing or did they want to continue with their daily lives under a delusion of grandeur. During my stay in Lahore, I hobnobbed with political workers and voters on both sides of the divide. It was during this interaction that I confronted notions of political leanings that far surpassed the established laws of logic and intelligent reasoning. I found this trend prevalent amongst PML-N and PPP supporters, while PTI voters appeared level-headed and rational.”

Will Democracy Follow?

With Imran Khan’s support for excessive defence budget, the Pakistan Army’s leaning towards PTI, an opinion piece in The Express Tribune questions, “Pakistan has had military rule for almost as much time as it has had democratic governments, so if Imran Khan is in power, how democratic will it be? ”

“In an interview to DW, Imran Khan said the problem of minority persecution is a “small issue”. He said the real issue is malnutrition and economy. It made for a good sound-bite to the media but it made for a terrible philosophy in a leader. No citizen of Pakistan, once persecuted by the state, is to be diminished. Not women, not transgender, not religious minorities and not the poor.”

No, I Don’t Want to be Imran Khan

In a cheeky account of admiration and hate for Imran Khan - the Pakistani cricketer, the rich playboy and now most-likely the prime minister, The Hindu, profiles the cricketer-turned politician.

“Did I want Khan’s easy way with women? Umm, not really. I knew many smug, vanilla-handsome jerks like him. What about the money and the sports cars? Yes, I cannot lie, I did want those. The friendships with rock stars like Mick Jagger, the wild parties and the groupies? We-ell, I would have taken being pally with Mick and the band. Was I desperate to be known as ‘Im the Dim’ by my Oxford cohort, including Benazir Bhutto? Nah, I suspect I would have passed on that one.”

Is it The Time of Imran Khan?

In an editorial, The Times of India, wrote that Imran’s rise to power comes at a time when “relations between the two countries being cold while the border is heated.”

“Fatima Bhutto has called him the only player in the circus run by the military. Others call it match fixing. Unlike in the election five years ago democracy’s roots appear to have been eroded rather than strengthened. If Imran rides to power on this dark stallion he may be more of a puppet than PM.”