Pakistan’s next batch of intrigues
The generals play politics
America has suffered Pakistan's duplicity out of a feeling of helplessness


Since the decade-old war in Afghanistan forced America and Pakistan back together, they have maintained a mutually understood deception. America considers Pakistan a threat to world peace, sponsor of terrorism, obliging host to the Taliban and so enemy of the NATO mission in Afghanistan. Yet it calls it an ally and has showered it with money. Pakistan has trousered the cash, put up a decent fight against its own Islamist militants and continued to oblige the Taliban.

This is unsustainable, and in 2012 will cause serious friction between the two countries. America has suffered Pakistan’s duplicity out of a feeling of helplessness that it can do otherwise and a hope that the Pakistanis will come round. That will not happen. Pakistan’s generals are convinced the Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai is against their interests and that, once NATO leaves Afghanistan, the Taliban will regain power there.

That looks a fair bet, with America due to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by 2014 and the Taliban insurgency mounting. To help prevent it, the Pakistanis want a bigger say in Afghanistan’s post-NATO affairs, which would imply handing some control to the Taliban, at least in the south of the country. In 2012 America will not countenance this; by 2014 it may have to.

Pakistan’s generals are harder-pressed at home. The American dispatch of Osama bin Laden, in northern Pakistan in May 2011, was embarrassing: it is widely assumed he was another army guest. This encouraged Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan’s opposition leader, to attack the top brass and vow to make peace with their chief bugbear, India. President Asif Zardari hopes to deny him the chance. He is struggling to hold together a fissiparous coalition, led by his Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), at least until an upper-house election, due in March. If he succeeds, his government may become the country’s first democratic government to complete its term.

Mr Sharif, a two-time former prime minister, therefore hopes to bring down the government before the poll. But Mr Zardari, the widower of the assassinated Benazir Bhutto, will succeed: he has proved wilier than expected, though he remains vulnerable to the country’s interventionist judges, who are aching to hear corruption and other charges against him.

As for providing its people with jobs, Pakistan will remain hampered by its woeful infrastructure, education and economic management. Global warming, to which Pakistan is especially vulnerable, will worsen its problems.

And, in hard times, more disaffected Pakistanis will embrace the Utopian promise of Islamic fundamentalism. Its advance, Pakistan’s most predictable recent feature, will continue in 2012.

James Astill: energy and environment editor and former South Asia correspondent, The Economist

Are Pakistani Generals fighting for survival?

The memo scandal has entirely confused Pakistani people when they do not understand who is fighting with whom? Is Pakistan army fighting for its survival? Is Judiciary undermining constitution? Is civil government not bringing facts on ground to safe democratic system and institutions? Why Nawaz Sharif hurried to approach Supreme Court of Pakistan? Is memo a Trap for Generals? Why Nawaz Brothers were frequently visiting Turkey where powerful army is capped in limits?


Before discussing these questions, it is important to discuss events of May 2, 2011, when Osma Bin Laden was killed by US Marine attack in a safe haven in Abbotabad. Osama Bin Laden, a Saudi Arabia national, leading a terrorist outfit Al-Quaida was declared most wanted terrorist by Security Council of UN after incident of 9/11 in 2001, when more than 3,000 US and other nationals were killed in terror attack on WTC in New York. Osama Bin Laden was in Afghanistan as a guest of Talaban regime and blamed of executing 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, Pentagon and Pennsylvania state. The Talaban refused to extradite Osama Bin Laden to face justice in USA which triggered a war against terrorism against Afghanistan. The last person who met Osama Bin Laden in Kandhar was Director General Inter-Services Intelligence DG ISI of Pakistan Armed Forces to persuade Osama Bin Laden and Talaban leaders to face justice in US to avoid war. What was discussed between Osama Bin Laden and ISI Director General in that last meeting, no one knows contents of it? Was this last meeting to discuss provision of safe haven to Osama Bin Laden? After that meeting between ISI General and Osama Bin Laden, world never knew whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden till May 2, 2011.



The Pakistan joined war against terrorism and started receiving billions of dollars of military and civil aid from USA. The ISI was arresting low level Al-Quaida operatives to build confidence in US administration and extraditing them to USA and receiving more military aid as reward. The ISI and Pakistan Army always denied presence of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistani territory on national and international forums but voices of doubt were heard around world about substandard policies of Armed Forces of Pakistan. There were also information’s in press that ISI is using US aid to arm Talaban for attacks against NATO forces in Afghanistan.



Was Osama Bin laden a Terrorist or Hero? It is very important issue to discuss before recent memo scandal and role of Pakistani Generals. The anti-American sentiments in Islamic world made Osama Bin Laden a Hero who waged Jihad against USA and Western World while on killing peaceful citizen Osama Bin Laden was a Terrorist. The Pakistani press media and government never condemned terrorist attacks of Osama Bin Laden nor accepted presence of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan.



Who is most powerful institution in Pakistan? Everyone in Pakistan openly accept that Pakistan Army is most powerful institution in Pakistan. The 80% of Pakistani budget is swallowed by Pakistan Army which cannot be discussed in parliament even which has turned Pakistani army in a monster without any bounds. There is never enough budget for health and education for common people in Pakistan but Generals not paid any attention for vested interests. What armed forces in Pakistan plan for country no one knows except few Generals? The General impose foreign policy on civilian government and whenever any democratic ruler steps to take helm of state then Generals pack him up and enforce martial law in country.



In presence of such a powerful army in Pakistan, the presence of Osama Bin Laden to go un-noticed is unimaginable. It meant that section of Generals were fully aware of presence of Osama Bin Laden in Abbotabad, enjoying due protection, very close to army cantonment facility.

It was need of time that Chief of Army Staff General Kiyani and DG ISI might have resigned after killing of Osama Bin Laden in Abbotabad but civil government of Yousaf Raza Gillani protected armed forces to avoid becoming target of Osama Bin Laden sympathizers in Pakistan.



Let’s know about Judicial System of Pakistan also, where Supreme Court of Pakistan is issuing judgments in which none of Justice ever writes note of difference. What a superb Supreme Court of Pakistan which is symbolic in its judgments? Are these judges of Supreme Court of Pakistan or Team of Judges? In Pakistan, a wife can have difference of opinion on many issues with her husband but what a family of Judges of Supreme court of Pakistan having so much mutual understanding? Is there any force in Pakistan which makes these Judges to write decision in chambers? When Pakistani public see such judgments of Supreme Court of Pakistan, it simply makes them to smile and to walk away silently on fear of ISI which can make them disappear for years and no higher court will hear cases of their disappearances in Pakistan.



We must watch very carefully, frequent visits of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif to Turkey. It was general view of citizens of Pakistan that such visits are to know how the Generals were capped up in limits by civil government in Turkey. While such tactics were being learnt by Nawaz Sharif who was victim of one Pakistani General who ousted him from power and forced him in exile in Saudi Arabia after allegations of corruption charges. As, memo scandal emerged in Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif rushed to Supreme Court of Pakistan instead of parliament because it was time to drag Generals in courts that their powers may be hammered.



Now, the stage is set in Pakistan and watch who falls, Generals, Nawaz Sharif or Supreme Courts of Pakistan? The memo case can be a judicial coup of civil government to prevail power of Generals or fall of Generals if question is raised in court proceedings that who harbored Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan. If civil government survives of memo conspiracey, then Generals powers will be capped and free judicial system will take place in Pakistan where Judges will be allowed to write difference of opinion in judgments.


( This article is 100% true. the new partner to army in pakistan power sharing game is electronic media. in 1980s it was jihadies and in 70s it was religious parties. but now they are replaced by media.)

http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/headlinenewsd.php?hnewsid=3254

‘Brotherly’ countries turn down Pakistan’s request

All rhetoric of brotherhood notwithstanding, two ‘friendly’ Arab countries have refused to supply oil to Pakistan on long-term credit.

Plagued by circular debt, and faced with high international oil prices, Pakistan had requested Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to extend their credit term for oil payments.
During his two-day visit in August last year, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had requested Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to either restore ‘free oil facility’ or extend the credit term for oil payment from the existing 30 days to one-year.

Saudi Arabia had granted Pakistan a ‘free oil facility’ in 1998, in the aftermath of the nuclear tests and subsequent economic sanctions from the United States and Europe.

“Saudi Arabia has turned down Pakistan’s request on grounds that since it exports oil to other countries, they may demand similar treatment,” said sources, quoting Saudi officials.

Saudi authorities also said that oil export is a commercial business for them and they would offer Pakistan the same terms that are offered to other countries, sources added.

Pakistan had also requested Kuwait to extend its credit terms for oil payments to six months, from the current two-month deferral period.

A formal request in this regard was made during President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to Kuwait on May 7, 2011. At that time, Kuwait said it would discuss the matter with concerned authorities and let Pakistan know later.

Kuwait is the only country that supplies oil to Pakistan on a two-month deferred payment plan, an arrangement secured during the 2008 financial crisis. Other Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, export oil on 30-day credit term.
When contacted, however, Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain said he had no knowledge of such requests.

Earlier, Iran had been supplying 45,000 barrels of crude oil to Pakistan on a three-month deferred payment plan until January 2011. UN-imposed sanctions, however, brought a halt to these due to difficulties in opening Letter of Credits from global banks for oil imports from Iran.
Since then, Iranian oil is largely smuggled to Pakistan. Officials say people of Baluchistan meet most of their requirements with smuggled oil.

Pakistan tops Google search for ‘Muhammad (pbuh)’, 'Quran'

Pakistan is ranked number one in the world to search for the word ‘Muhammad (pbuh)’ and ‘Quran’.

A recent report by ProPakistani shows words which were searched the most by Pakistan during the year 2011. The list of those words is as follows:

1. Muhammad (pbuh)

Pakistan tops the list among all countries in the world to search for the word ‘Muhammad (pbuh)’. Five Pakistani cities also top the first five spots.

2. Islam

Pakistan ranked as number three in the world to search the word ‘Islam’ on Google in 2011.

3. Quran

From all over the world, Pakistan was the number one location to search the word ‘Quran’ on Google – with Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore topping the first three spots respectively.

4. Education

Literacy rate still may not be that high in Pakistan, but it tops the list of countries searching for the word education’ on Google during 2011.

5. English

Pakistan is once again on top, with Karachi and Lahore also topping the list of cities that searched for the word ‘English’.
6. Scholarships
With Islamabad and Lahore on the fourth and fifth spot, Pakistan ranked on number five to search for the word ‘scholarships during the year 2011′.

Apart from the above mentioned results, Pakistan also ranked as top country that searched the term ‘Jobs’ and ‘Peace’, seventh for searching ‘Information Technology’ and second for searching ‘Physics’ and ‘Thesis’.

Karachi rally: Musharraf to defy threats, return home this month

As political fervor whips up across the country, the former dictator has decided to jump in, head first.

Clad in a crisp white shalwar kameez, former president and chairman All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Pervez Musharraf announced he would return to Pakistan between January 27 and 30, despite ‘baseless’ court cases, and risks to his life.

The announcement was synchronised with red and green fireworks, and chants of ‘welcome’ in the Mazar-e-Quaid neighbourhood on Sunday 8th January.

“I am coming to Pakistan not for myself, but to bring happiness to the masses and solidarity to the country,” Musharraf said, while addressing the APML rally on Sunday through video conferencing.

Speaking from Dubai to a crowd of between 6,000 to 10,000 people, Musharraf said his rally is not a tsunami, but an “earthquake which would affect Pakistan’s politics.”

The former president said that some politicians say he has already had his time, and should not return.

“During my innings, I have scored a century. I know how to run this country more than anyone,” he said, adding: “Then there are those who have not even played their innings. I want to tell them that they should think twice before confronting me.”

Dictator’s diatribe

The former president, who ruled for eight years, compared his regime with the present-day situation. During my time, people had jobs, trains were functional, Pakistan was safe from IMF’s clutches and there was a reverse brain-drain, with expats returning to Pakistan to settle down, he said.

“But today, Pakistan is on the brink of destruction,” he proclaimed before embarking on a tirade: “Prices of essential items have increased three-fold, people are selling their children to run their houses, electricity and gas, apart from being unavailable, is expensive; trains have derailed and PIA is grounded, the economy has plunged while terrorism and extremism are on the rise, and people have no hope for a bright future.”

Reaching out
Musharraf addressed various ethnic communities, and lent his support to the Bengalis, saying that they should be considered citizens of the country, and given their identity cards and passports.
He reminded the Kashmiris of the foreign aid he solicited for them after the 2005 earthquake, and wooed the Hazaras by saying that he was always in favor of a separate Hazara province.
Musharraf said he would fight from the Chitral constituency in the next elections.

Referring to Nawab Akhbar Bugti’s murder, Musharraf said some politicians are visiting Balochistan and conspiring against him.

People say I am an enemy of the Baloch, but during my eight years, no one did more for the province than I did, he claimed, adding that he brought immense progress to the Marri and Bugti tribes.

He added, though: “I will always be an enemy of those who are against Pakistan, who burn its flag and who are killing Punjabis and Hazara.”

The rally was addressed by a host of other party leaders before Musharraf.

APML secretary general Haris Nawaz, who was criticised by the party’s Karachi division for hijacking the event, said “the party would give all people their rights.”

Salma Murad, wife of actor Waheed Murad, said the people ‘need’ Musharraf. Also in attendance was Gholam Mujtaba, famous for his ubiquitous billboards across Karachi, who said that people coming from Sukkur and Khairpur for the rally has proven that the former president is popular everywhere.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2012.

Nato troops get ‘nappy rash’Face the pain of blocked diapers

Technologically well equipped and facility-wise pampered, the US-led Nato forces, which are already eating dust in Afghanistan at the hands of Taliban, are finding it impossible to fight as they don’t have “diapers to wear”.


A diplomatic source said that the Nato supply line cut by Pakistan has hurt the US-led Nato forces in many ways, including the severe shortage of diapers for the US-Nato soldiers.
Spokesman for the US Embassy in Islamabad when contacted referred this correspondent to the Isaf spokesman in Afghanistan, arguing that he is neither a soldier nor does know that the US Marines and Nato soldiers wear diapers while fighting their war against Taliban inside Afghanistan.


The Isaf spokesman Col Gary Kolb was also sent a question but no response came from his side till the filing of this report.


Col Gary was asked if it is a fact that the scarcity of goods faced by the US and Nato forces in Afghanistan (because of supply line cut by Pakistan) has caused severe shortage of diapers used by US troops in Afghanistan while fighting the Taliban fighters.


Although, the Isaf spokesman did not come up with his response, a Google search on the matter revealed that the diaper shortage crisis faced by the US-led Nato forces in Afghanistan was first reported by an Urdu daily early last month. In addition, a lot of discussion in different blogs is going on over the shortage of diapers, tissues and chicken in Afghanistan.


According to the newspaper report of last month, the US authorities had contacted the Pakistani authorities early last month for immediate provision of diapers.

The newspaper report had claimed that the report of the shortage of diapers first appeared in the US media but officially the report was never confirmed by the US administration or the Central Nato Command. It is said that during military operations and while fighting the Taliban inside Afghanistan, the US soldiers wear diapers to fight their enemies without unduly risking their lives.


According to one analyst, the well protected US-Nato forces riding armoured personnel carriers and other army vehicles, do not dare to get outside their vehicles to ease them for fear of attacks by the Taliban.


Despite their extreme technological superiority as well as huge number (more than 150,000 US-led Isaf-Nato forces) of deployment in Afghanistan over the Taliban fighters, the Americans have almost lost their war against a much smaller number of Taliban.


It was the shame of defeat to the US-led forces inside Afghanistan that Washington has now aggressively started pursuing a peace deal with Mulla Muhammad Omar, the Taliban leader and former head of Afghanistan.


Of late, it was no less than Vice President of the US Joe Biden, who surprised the whole world by stating that Taliban were not enemies of the United States.

A pro-veil ad by the Islamic Republic Police. The text down to the right reads, “According to the psychologists, people who use improper outfits or disgusting make-up are suffering from character disorders”

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Iran shrugs at looming EU ban on its oil

Iran on Thursday played down the impact of new Western sanctions targeting its vital oil sector, after European diplomats said they have reached preliminary agreement on an EU oil ban from the Islamic republic.

The National Iranian Oil Company said demand was so high for Iranian oil that it would have no trouble selling it elsewhere.

“We hope that Iran’s oil is not sanctioned officially but if so we have taken the needed arrangements,” the company’s director of international affairs, Mohsen Qamsari, was quoted as saying in a report on Iran’s oil ministry website.

The 27-nation European Union has struck “an agreement in principle” to ban Iranian oil imports, an EU diplomat in Brussels told AFP.

Negotiations were ongoing to determine when the ban should start, though France said it hoped to see it announced at an EU foreign ministers’ meeting on end of January.

The West’s sanctions squeeze on Iran stems from fears the country is trying to develop an atomic bomb under cover of a nuclear programme it insists is exclusively for peaceful, civilian use.

Iran exports around 18 percent of its oil to the European Union, making the bloc the second-biggest destination after China. Oil revenues make up 80 percent of Iran’s foreign currency earnings.

An EU-wide ban could theoretically land a heavy blow on Iran’s economy, which is already weakened by successive Western sanctions.

But Iran’s political leaders and its oil company have said it can easily offset an EU ban by simply shifting exports to Asia.

The United States, which last weekend enacted a new law hitting Iran’s central bank which processes most of the Islamic republic’s oil sales, hailed the EU move and said it wanted other countries to follow suit.

“These (EU measures) are the kinds of steps that we would like to see not just from our close allies and partners in places like Europe but from countries around the world,” US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

“We do believe that this is consistent with tightening the noose on Iran economically,” she said. “We think that the place to get Iran’s attention is with regard to its oil sector.”

To that end, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was to travel to China and Japan next week to discuss sanctions “coordination”.

Beijing on Wednesday said it opposed “unilateral sanctions” against Iran. But Washington is hoping that, at the very least, China will extract deep discounts if it continues to buy Iranian oil.

The new US sanctions aim at forcing foreign countries and companies to choose between doing business with Iran or with the United States. Exemptions can be granted, but reportedly only if countries show they are significantly reducing Iranian oil purchases.

Despite the public shrug at the extra sanctions looming, there are signs of Iran’s fury at the pressure.

Military and political leaders have threatened to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf — through which 20 percent of the world’s oil flows — to all Middle East oil tankers if Iran’s petroleum sales are blocked.

They have also warned the “full force” of its navy will be unleashed if the United States tries to redeploy an aircraft carrier to its 5th Fleet base in Bahrain, in the Gulf.

Early this week, Iran’s navy completed 10 days of war games in which it tested three anti-ship missiles.

The developments have sent oil prices higher. Although they fell back slightly in Asian trading, they remained underpinned by the tensions over Iran.

New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate crude for delivery in February, was $103.12 a barrel while Brent North Sea crude was $113.45 per barrel.

Iran’s economy is already facing turmoil, with its currency, the rial, showing extreme volatility.

After plummeting 12 percent against the dollar on Monday to an all-time low, in the wake of the new US sanctions, Iran’s central bank stepped in to shore up the rial by imposing a lower fixed rate of 14,000 to the dollar.

But many exchange bureaux refused to sell dollars at that level and simply shuttered their windows.

On Thursday, the central bank’s order appeared to have been lifted, with a specialised website, www.mesghal.ir, showing the rial 14 percent lower, at 15,950 to the dollar.

The government has insisted the volatility is not related to the sanctions.

Energy Resources

U.S. concerned by Iran-Pakistan pipeline

Washington has serious concerns about decisions by Islamabad to move closer to a decision on a natural gas pipeline from Iran, a U.S. official said.

Pakistan is facing an energy crisis due to a 33 percent decline in natural gas supplies compared with last year. The government last month said it would ration natural gas to cope with the deficit.

Washington opposes the Iranian pipeline because of potential economic benefits for Tehran. Ties between Washington and Pakistan are at lows because of fall outs from the military conflict in neighboring Afghanistan and the May raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

Victoria Nuland, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, said Washington had concerns about the status of the Iranian pipeline.

"We've made absolutely clear over many months now our concern about this deal and we will continue to talk to Pakistan about it," she said.

Western adversaries of Iran are tightening economic sanctions on Tehran in response to growing concerns over its nuclear program.

The Pakistani Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources last week said it had a series of measures it could take to address the shortages, including moving forward with the Iranian option despite U.S. reservations.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/01/04/US-concerned-by-Iran-Pakistan-pipeline/UPI-55961325684800/#ixzz1iWhEFWa1

Iran tests missile as Obama approves tighter sanctions

Iran said Sunday it tested a new medium-range missile during war games near a vital Gulf oil transit channel, hours after US President Barack Obama signed a law tightening sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme. A military spokesman also announced that Iranian ships and submarines will on Monday carry out manoeuvres designed to allow them to shut the strategic channel, the Strait of Hormuz, if Tehran so wishes. The show of military muscle underlined a threat by Iran to shut the narrow strait — a throughpoint for 20 percent of the world’s oil — if more Western sanctions were applied over its nuclear programme. The potential for that scenario, and possible confrontation with US warships that patrol the Gulf, was given impetus when Obama on Saturday signed tough new sanctions targeting Iran’s central bank and financial sector.

Under the measures, foreign firms will have to choose between doing business with the Islamic republic or the economically mighty United States. The aim is to put the squeeze on Iran’s crucial oil revenues, most of which are processed by the central bank.

A true leader in the making?

The Karachi rally was undoubtedly a success. Pakistan’s ‘third option’ — ahead of the rally — had confidently stated, “The PTI and the Karachi jalsa will make people forget the Egyptian revolution.” Well, I sure hope that despite the rallies huge turnout this doesn’t happen.

The youth of Egypt, geared with every ounce of revolutionary zeal and having successfully overthrown a 30-year-old dictatorship, finds itself targeted today by the military that it once chanted slogans with. Using tear gas and batons to chase away protestors and dragging girls across the streets, Egyptian security forces have proven that destruction often follows ‘tsunamis’.

Adding fuel to the fire, during the first phase of what is expected to be a cumbersome and complicated threefold election process, Islamist parties in Egypt have comfortably secured leading positions.

In Pakistan, too, religion has always been the opium of the people and a guiding criterion to casting a vote. Imran Khan’s current platform is revolutionary but what is to follow still remains uncertain and ambiguous.

While Khan’s rhetoric of change and hope is mesmerising, where is his agenda? His personal memoir, Pakistan, is as confusing as his politics. He seems to have more in common with orthodox Islamist parties than he does with the liberal educated youth that is quick to rally support for him. Impatient, frustrated and impulsive, Khan illustrates a naive understanding of Pakistani politics, which remains deeply wrapped in bureaucratic red tape, conspiracy theories and civil-military power struggles. At one point, he brutally states, “Never should our army chief ever be allowed to talk directly to the US or any other government” (p.363). I would love to see how that works out for him.

Comfortably alienating liberal journalists, the government, the military and NGOs, Khan claims that all stood idle as Pakistan deteriorated, ultimately leaving “only my party and the religious parties to take a stand” (p.249). Revealing his limited understanding of international affairs, regional politics and the war on terror, Khan proposes opening a “dialogue with various militant groups, as the US has done in Afghanistan, and set a timetable for the withdrawal of our troops from the tribal areas” (p.360). It is ironic that he is ready to take cues from a foreign entity he repeatedly blames for the majority of Pakistan’s problems. For anyone who has mildly followed the war in Afghanistan knows that dialogue has been largely unsuccessful and US troop withdrawal has only mounted pressure. He also fails to address how troop withdrawal will bring an end to extremism and terrorism in Pakistan.
On the other hand, Khan’s humanitarian efforts are admirable. Following the 2010 floods, he “headed a campaign to raise funds for the flood victims and in one month collected two billion rupees” (p.349). South Asia has seen great philanthropists like Abdul Sattar Edhi and Muhammad Yunus who have done more for their country than their respective political leaders. I almost wish Khan had joined that crowd instead.

“I was and always have been an idealist” (p.155); one wonders if behind Khan’s idealistic rhetoric lies a strong, optimistic leader with a serious vision or a young and naive philanthropist, still searching for direction.

Whatever the case is, idealists don’t last long in politics.

Though not ready to write him off just yet, I hope Imran Khan will soon tell us ‘how’ he will solve the problems that beset Pakistan today. My vote matters, just like yours. And I’m not ready to make a mistake.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd,  2012.