Not too long ago me and my work colleagues were having a discussion in our office on Brexit and the up-coming Brexit vote.
I’ve been sceptical on politics around the globe for a while, I pitched the idea that it probably may not even matter what we vote for because it’s probably already a foregone conclusion, i.e. the higher ups have already decided what’s going to happen and now it was just a public façade to be done with the formalities.
Whilst none of my Pakistani peers batted an eye-lid, the one white dude in the room propped up and mockingly exclaimed: “WHAT? Rigging?! This ain’t PAKISTAN ya know.”
Though I stayed quiet, mentally I was thinking ‘you absolute D-head’. Yes it was condescending, it was arrogant, especially the way he spat the word Pakistan with venom….but it wasn’t incorrect.
Pakistan’s Reputation & Panama
Pakistan has a history, and therefore a reputation of rigging and dishonesty which extends way beyond the electoral process.
In fact, whether we like it or not, we have a strong reputation of being corrupt, dishonest and deceitful.
Sitting in the UK, facing many different people of different nationalities was an absolute embarrassment and shameful whilst the “Panama” episode was going on.
Public figures of other nations that were named in the Panama Papers came out, apologised and resigned…whether they were guilty or not.
Not the Sharif’s though. Despite every man and his dog knowing without a shadow of doubt that the Sharif’s (along with the Zardari’s) are the very definition of corruption, there never was any “evidence” to prove it.
Now finally there was. But nope, the Sharif’s won’t accept the evidence. Instead they’re going to fight tooth and nail and act like poor victims in an international conspiracy.
Humiliation Extended
In the process they’re going to concoct fabricated evidence to cover up their corruption…and in true Sharif style, they did with such incompetence and idiocy that the holes were displayed for the world to see, and for us to be humiliated further.
This went on for months and months. All the while, we Pakistanis who have a lot of national pride, held our heads in shame. The Sharif’s, as OUR representatives, were making a mockery of us.
What they were doing more than anything else though, was re-enforcing the view that Pakistanis are corrupt and not to be trusted.
A reputation already engraved in stone thanks to the Godfather of corruption, Mr 10% himself.
It’s not just the corruption and money-grabbing coldness…it’s the pathetic “performance” of shedding tears on camera for his assassinated wife, to the cringe-worthy attempted flirting with Sarah Palin that solidified the embarrassment of having such vile, fake and insincere characters as “our leaders”.
A Leader’s Impact
The worst thing about having immoral leaders, is that it trickles down to the general masses.
This is true whether it’s a company, a sports team, or a charitable organisation, as well as a country. If the leadership is corrupt, you best believe those being led are going to end up taking part in it.
So now you end up with a society which has a reputation of everyone trying to screw you over.
Anyone from abroad that visits Pakistan knows what I’m talking about…it’s like some of the locals have a sensor and instantly lie, loot and fool in order to make a quick buck…it’s actually impressive how efficient they are if it wasn’t so tragic.
I could go on and on about the negatives. There are a lot of people that do that already, a few for their own nefarious means.
The Real Side of Pakistanis
But we Pakistanis are emotional people by nature. And we have a lot of national pride.
And best of all, there is a wide populace that are honest, hard-working, and incredibly talented. It’s just shut out and drowned by the corrupt. But it exists.
A fair few years ago I remember me and a friend of mine were on holiday and lost in the bustling streets of Valencia.
We walked and walked and walked, in search of a halal place to eat. We ended up at a corner shop style store, being manned by a Pakistani migrant.
We started off asking for directions to the nearest halal place, which he gave. And as these things always go, the inevitable question came: “Are you Pakistani?!”
The joy and happiness that instantly occurs when we meet one of our own in foreign land is incredible. Before we set out, he gave us free drinks…we insisted on paying but he wasn’t having any of it.
Might not seem like a big deal, but it was a massive gesture. Dude’s probably on a pittance wage, away from home, and was so happy and keen to help other Pakistanis, he did all that he could possibly have done in his situation.
The Desire to Return
Similar stories could be given from holidays in Milan, Barcelona and Dubai etc. So many Pakistanis leave Pakistan to work abroad, some by get there by illegal means, some don’t.
But every single one I’ve come across, and I’ve come across many, have one single thing in common.
This thing they also have in common with many many overseas Pakistanis settled in the UK, USA etc…: THEY WANT TO GO HOME.
They want to return to Pakistan. But the political and economic climate in Pakistan is what forced them out in the first place; and going back isn’t an option.
Echoes of History
However, every now and then, there come’s an individual that causes a ruckus.
History is filled with individuals that step forward with courage, passion, self-confidence, restless determination and a magnetic ability to inspire those around them.
These people cause such a commotion because they are both incredibly dangerous as well as simply incredible. Which of the two they are would depend on which side of the fence you sit.
Take for example, people like Malcolm X. Nobody can deny that this man was incredible and inspired a whole generation of black people, and still inspires millions, to fight for freedom, justice and human rights.
But for the Government of America at the time, he was incredibly dangerous and therefore a nuisance to be rid of.
In Pakistan’s history itself, there is no bigger figure to accentuate this point then Muhammad Ali Jinnah. This man was so inspirational he got a people to rise and carve out a whole land for themselves.
A hero for Pakistanis. But the devil for Indians.
The Hero of Today
So what’s the point? The point is that for Pakistan we today have another individual that, regardless of how his political career pans out, will remain etched into its history because of his passion, self-confidence, restless determination and magnetic ability to inspire others: Imran Khan.
Already a controversial figure, in line with any individual that takes up this mantle, Imran Khan has been much maligned and attacked by public figures, media and a lot of other people but few (if any) can deny that he probably is the most loved and admired Pakistani currently living by the general public.
What makes Imran Khan incredible, (and incredibly dangerous for others) isn’t just the characteristics described above, but it’s what he represents for people, and what it means for them.
And by people, I specifically mean those Pakistanis that are full of national pride, honest, hard-working, sick and tired of the negative reputation, that want to go home (if they’re living abroad) and want to see Pakistan rise to be a great nation of world standing.
Hope Awakened
For what Imran Khan represents for these people is Hope. The ability to Dream again.
To hope and dream about going back home.
To hope and dream about a Pakistan getting rid of crippling corruption.
To hope and dream about living in a free and fair society, where one can work and be rewarded, and achieve personal goals and success based on merit.
To hope and dream that Pakistan can finally get back on track to become that Pakistan which was envisioned by Iqbal & Jinnah.
Despite all the negative press Imran Khan has gotten lately, both inside of Pakistan and outside, despite all the flaws, despite all the U-turns; you only need to look at the public reaction not only inside of Pakistan, but outside to see how much it means to them that he won the election.
Public celebrations out in the towns and cities of the UK, USA and Canada etc. Celebrations you’d normally see if the country won a world cup or something similar.
That’s how big a deal it is to the people.
The last time Zardari made it to England, if I remember correctly, angry Pakistanis pelted him with eggs and tomatoes. The Sharif’s are constantly hounded wherever they go.
Yet, here people came out to the streets with sheer joy just because Imran Khan is now going to be our Prime Minister.
Claim to Fame
So many people that had a personal moment with Imran pasted it on social media, digging out old pictures taken with him, stories of meeting him or even being in the same room as him.
I may as well recount my meeting with him, but I’m reluctant because it’s such a non-event…but hey, my claim to fame with the great man himself:
He came to give a small talk at the University of Bradford, and to promote his new book. As others, I stood in line at the end of the talk to get my copy signed.
When I got to the front of the queue, I was star-struck, as well as naturally being quiet and shy. So what did I do? I did what every man would do when meeting a child-hood hero, I froze.
He half rolled his head looking at me with a facial expression that said, well…get on with it.
And I thought, shit…I’m supposed to say something. All I could mutter sheepishly was my name, which was enough for him to sign my book and off I went.
Face to face with my hero, and I practically exchanged no words pssht.
Not my sister though, she loves rattling on and managed to sneak a picture even though no pictures were allowed.
Social Proof
As a general rule, you don’t obtain such support and adulation unless you’ve done things to deserve it.
Imran Khan has been in the public eye of every Pakistani for pretty much four decades.
We’ve seen him lead average teams into world beaters. We’ve seen hum nurture talent into becoming the world’s best. We’ve seen him fight against corruption and match-fixing and come out on top.
We’ve seen him take on impossible odds, we’ve seen him being told he can’t do this or that, we’ve seen him fail yet carry on with ruthless determination until he got what he set out to achieve: World Cup, Cancer Hospital, Namal College and now of course becoming the Prime Minister.
We’ve sat and watched his physical and mental struggles, his injurious falls, his articulate and eloquent speeches, his failures and his triumphs and we love him for it.
Instead of feeling shame, disgrace and humiliation at the sound of “our leader’s” name, we can now hold our head high and be proud of the man in charge.
Playboy Drug Addict
But he’s a playboy. He’s a cocaine addict. A Taliban-sympathiser. A terrorist supporter. And on and on, which certain parts of the media, especially from the west are enthusiastic to continuously tell us.
What these guys don’t realise is that they’re not harming Imran Khan with this rhetoric, they’re doing the opposite.
The most inspiring people are those that inspire others to be a better version of themselves.
To inspire them out of mediocrity and into something special.
But if you see someone as perfect, then inspiration becomes despondency…”ah he’s too perfect, he’s brilliant, he’s a genius…I could never do that. So there’s no point trying.”
Perfection becomes an excuse not to be great, and to not even try. It kills inspiration.
But when you see human flaws, you see a normal man that isn’t perfect but has still achieved incredible success, therefore a person thinks “I too with my flaws and imperfections can emulate and achieve something great like him.”
In other words, the people of Pakistan aren’t looking for a perfect Saint of a leader…they’re looking for someone that can inspire them out of their lethargy, someone that can be trusted as not being corrupt, someone that can be looked up to in creating a system and structure of fair governance and equal opportunity, someone who is honest and sincere….all of which the previous set up did not provide.
The Ability to Inspire
This is what makes Imran incredible, it’s what makes him incredibly dangerous…his ability to inspire and garner support.
People talk about the cancer hospital he built.
Yes, he rightly deserves the applause, but what is it that’s running the hospital?
It’s not Imran.
It’s his ability to inspire a multitude of Pakistanis to donate money and entrust it into his care.
It’s his ability to inspire masses of people to take action.
That same multitude, and more, are ready to take action behind Imran for the betterment of Pakistan.
Pakistan is a land full of natural beauty, and insane amount of natural resources, and a generation of youth packed with unbelievable skills and talent.
Imran has the ability to inspire and nurture that talent into action to fully utilise those skills and natural resources that can catapult Pakistan from the precipice of the abyss into glorious heights.
That’s why he represents incredible hope for Pakistanis, and that’s why he’s incredibly dangerous for those that would not want to see Pakistan excel.
This is exactly why the Indian media is currently in a state of mourning & devastation. It’s exactly why the Americans and the West in general are not too pleased with this result.
The Potential Backlash
With that being said, Imran is at a critical point as well.
He now HAS to deliver. There is no other option. There is no turning back. There is no compromising.
You can’t give promises, fill hopes and dreams as he has, and then not deliver.
For if he fails to deliver, the backlash will be nothing like we’ve ever seen before. That’s the price of inspiring people into action. Of having people’s hopes and dreams rest upon you.
His biggest supporters will become his most passionate attackers, and this will be ugly. You only need to look at the depraved depths his ex-wife has stooped to in order to unleash her grievances, even at the expense of self-respect and personal dignity.
At the moment though, there’s a real buzz amongst the Pakistani community, excited, and in a state on enthusiastic anticipation at the possibilities that have now opened up.
