DEMOCRATIC UPRISING

Why current-day Pakistan should be a source of inspiration for India

(The beginning of this story, with background perspective, was recounted here the week after Imran Khan was ousted as PM, now an interesting starting point.)

What is going on in Pakistan currently is perhaps the most significant test of democracy in the last 75 years anywhere in the world. Where the ruling government, most of the erstwhile opposition, the entire state machinery, more than a few blatantly corrupted institutions — all ostensibly supported by the Army, is united, squarely against one man — Imran Khan. Who, in turn, suddenly has the vast majority of people in the country on his side. It is literally Elite Power vs Common People — a match-up for the Ages. What happens in the next few weeks could well determine Pakistan’s fate for the next 15–20 years.

It is the sort of face-off that, depending on who wins, will probably be not just enshrined in history books, but will someday have multiple documentaries made and books written on it. And yet, most people around the world do not know about it, thanks to the sold-out legacy media. India, with an even lower standard of journalism than most people seem to believe, is no exception.

It is a great pity because there are very significant lessons for us in India — some of the most provocative questions in the context of democracy being asked and possibilities manifested.

After being ousted from office as PM, Imran Khan’s support and popularity has grown so exponentially that there is no modern-day equivalent of it, not on this scale. Not even the Arab Spring. He has done 54 rallies in about 5 months, each one literally breaking attendance records in its particular area. Despite coarse and illegal barriers put up in many places (including heavy containers) by the current government; despite often taking more than twice the time to reach the venues, not only have those attendance records been broken many times over, but there have often been twice those many people outside those venues, all congregating in peace and an unprecedented spirit of solidarity.

The proportion of women and children in these rallies is unheard-of in Pakistani history. It is as if overnight, a new level of political awareness has got activated (perhaps for the first time since 1987, which is when some have suggested the average Pakistani citizen lost interest in politics). It happened so abruptly and so comprehensively that it has apparently even taken Imran Khan himself by surprise.

This was essentially triggered by the blatant and time-honoured corruption (of buying disgruntled backbenchers in a coalition government, thus making it fall) via what seems a quintessential regime change operation — leaving behind traces of evidence that is American modus operandi 101. Imran Khan’s longstanding aversion to Pakistan being the US’s partner in the “war on terror” in Afghanistan (that has resulted in 70,000 Pakistani deaths since 2001, due to internal strife) most notably manifested when he not only declared this intention with clarity as soon as he became PM in 2018, but also acted upon it (that Trump, interestingly, did not respond adversely to). In 2021, Imran Khan’s interview to HBO where he said “absolutely not” to the question of providing logistical support to American air-strikes may have gone viral in Pakistan (several songs in its honour surfaced, indigenous videos and live performances and even an original song by a Turkish singer — the revulsion of American imperialism runs deep) but the Biden administration was not amused.

Then came Imran Khan’s visit to Russia, just the day before their Ukrainian invasion began. The optics were bad but the rationalisations were clearly brushed off. (Those who still laugh off the regime-change claim might want to connect the dots all the way to the Afghanistan government recently officially complaining to the Pakistan government after al-Zawahiri’s drone-assassination, for allowing their airspace to the Americans, and causing dozens of other casualties as well.

This anger among Pakistani civilians of blatant foreign interference was compounded by an even worse act — of foisting the most infamously corrupt leaders in Pakistan’s history on them — as the Sharif and Zardari-Bhutto clans all came together (despite being bitter rivals before this) to keep Imran Khan out. Nowadays, often when any member of this clan is spotted in public in any country — they seem to get heckled by cries of “chor, chor” (two days ago, even a minister in the current government got heckled on a London street). Non-resident Pakistanis seem much more incensed by this anti-democratic, corrupt, criminal government, perhaps because they’ve seen how important rule-of-law is in their adopted countries.

Ostensibly masterminded by former-PM Nawaz Sharif, himself an economic absconder from Pakistan (now exiled in London), this new government has 60% of its cabinet out on bail — truly a bizarre first for any democracy in history. It’s a government that seems specifically designed to scuttle all the corruption cases against them that the Imran Khan government had instituted, that the whole country knows to be true.

Today, there are 13 opposition parties united just to keep Imran Khan out, with the largest cabinet in Pakistan’s history. Together, they have destroyed the economy in five short months; Pakistan have had a staggering 30% drop in value of economy in this period. According to the IMF and the World Bank, Pakistan is headed Sri Lanka’s way — a far bigger disaster, given that Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country in the world; its population is more than ten times Sri Lanka’s. (An independent economist explains why it is fake news to say the Imran Khan government caused this, even if their performance was not perfect — please see for 10 minutes from here.)

The same media that castigated Imran Khan for 11% inflation seven months ago is now silent at 45% inflation. Electricity was priced at Rs 16 per unit when Imran was ousted, today it is at 55. Petrol was at 120, it is now at 236. Through this economic carnage, all Imran Khan has been rallying for is free and fair fresh elections, so that people can unite under one umbrella which can take single-minded credible decisions, and motivate investments. As indeed Imran Khan’s government is now proven to have been doing — in the official reports the Pakistani government had to show the IMF recently, it was actually revealed that during Imran Khan’s three-and-a-half years at the helm, Pakistan’s economic performance was the best in 17 years, despite the impact of Covid-19 (meanwhile, after WHO commended Pakistan for its early response, later WEF and The Economist placed Pakistan among the three nations who handled Covid the best in the world — under Imran Khan, whose vision of “smart lockdowns” instead of a total lockdown, defied widespread liberal hysteria in the country). So, the Pakistani people were actually not disillusioned with Imran Khan’s governance at all — as the propaganda in the sold-out media ran earlier in the year (which, again, is American regime change modus operandi 101).

Obviously, this quantum of support, that could see Imran Khan get more than 80% of the vote currently, did not just appear overnight or because of circumstances. It is useful here to remember that no one doubts Imran Khan’s honesty and complete lack of corruption (even his political rivals don’t, unless they’re actively trying to disqualify him on bogus charges), or significantly, his genuine concern for the poor (unlike any other leader in modern times, except maybe former Brazilian President Lula, likely to be the next President). Imran Khan has not got this support through any kind of fake news or inciting hatred among the public, for religious or other reasons. The only criticism that can stick to some extent on him is that of narcissism (which actually does not reflect on his lifestyle at all; in fact, quite the opposite) — of perhaps not taking enough people with him as he could (which also has its positive dimensions), or occasional imprudent loose talk, a result of candour more than anything else.

All that hyper-liberal nonsense, about him being rabidly right-wing (“Taliban Khan”) or fickle (“U-Turn Khan”), over time, has been proven to be low-resolution notions about him, especially in the context of the balancing act that Pakistani politics has been. It’s the kind of bias confirmation that will never change. Like when, in 2019, the Imran Khan government sacked a provincial minister in Punjab — Fayyaz Chohan — for making anti-Hindu comments in 2019 — did it temper those opinions at all?

Imran Khan’s utterances about wanting modern-day Pakistan to resemble seventh-century Medina often leads to hysteria in those quarters too, as they gloss over what he has often said immediately after as well — that the Scandinavian countries and Great Britain represent that more today than any other region of the world. A clear reference to social welfare, that actually places him more Left than even those hysterical critics. The bottomline, however, is this — despite all the faults, supposed and real, attributed to him, do they actually even come close to offsetting his humanist credentials? Isn’t it already clear that empathy for the poor and honesty will emphatically be his legacy?

The bottomline also is the unambiguous majority support he has in Pakistan today (which is an understatement) — can that be denied in any country that considers itself a democracy? A country where the ruling elite, including the government, is so discredited internationally that no one wants to give them money, not even as much-needed flood relief (before the UN finally steps in). Where, bizarrely, the embarrassingly gushing current PM, with multiple corruption charges against him, assures the UN Security General that any financial help will be “spent transparently.” Conversely, Imran Khan, as the only opposition, in just three telethons of less than 3 hours each, raises 6.4 million dollars. In fact, lately, former US diplomat Robin Raphel came down to Pakistan to meet Imran Khan, an indication perhaps that the US has also recognised where Pakistan is really at today?

For the first time perhaps, the disquiet in the middle-class/ upper middle-class about the Army, is transforming to anger. For what the Army is ostensibly allowing to happen, reportedly to assuage the ego of their outgoing Chief (who is due to be changed in November). All those who have called Imran Khan a puppet of the Army, still don’t have the grace to admit how wrong they were about him, which is nothing new, of course.

Meanwhile, backed no doubt by this same Army, the government has conducted naked attacks on civilians, including regular protesters and especially those from PTI (Imran Khan’s party), with pointless arrests, traumatising women and children in the middle of the night, and later deliberately using expired tear gas shells on civilians, including women and children. And most significantly the media — anyone supporting Imran Khan, or even trying to give more balanced news, is being shut down and nakedly threatened (like ARY). Imran Khan’s rallies are not allowed to be covered on most TV channels; even Youtube was shut down during one of them. Several journalists (like Imran Riaz Khan) have been jailed illegally for a while, or hounded out of the country (like Arshad Sharif) or beaten up publicly (like Ayaz Amir).

Imran Khan’s former Chief of Staff, Shahbaz Gill was picked up from the market illegally and kept in custody for over a month, with torture and abuse inflicted, to force him to implicate Imran Khan in some way (which he didn’t). And when, during that period of custody, Imran Khan breathed fire in a rally, threatening the police and judiciary of court cases for harassing Gill, the government lodged a case of terrorism on him! That craziness really happened — but it backfired badly, as not only did the court eventually throw it out, but it also garnered terrible international press for the current Pakistani government. There are still several attempts being made to somehow disqualify Imran Khan from future elections through largely frivolous cases, hoping to pressurise the Supreme Court into making that kind of a decision. It will take a very brave judge, in the face of the impending public rage, to go through with a (bogus) decision like that.

There seems to be only one way to stop Imran Khan now from coming back to power, and that too with a strength that is unprecedented in Pakistan — by assassinating him. So, there have been clear attempts set in motion for that as well. Like the domestic helper who was ostensibly caught with a plan to poison him. Or the security vehicle in front of his, while on the road, that went up in flames. Or, most disturbingly, a federal minister in the ruling government (Javed Latif) going on PTV — Pakistan’s national broadcaster, and showing doctored footage without context to make a fake case of blasphemy against Imran Khan, clearly setting the foundation for a “fanatic” to shoot him down. He was widely castigated but this is level of desperation is disturbing. Perhaps that is what led to Imran Khan announcing during a rally that he has recorded a video and put in safe custody, where he names those responsible for his assassination, hoping perhaps that it will serve as a deterrent. All this, by a man who could have comfortably lived, without stress, the rest of his life in any part of the world he could have chosen to.

Just like the misleading propaganda on Ukraine-Russia (particularly the origins of the war) by the Western media, all of this is being ignored. Even with literally criminals in charge in Pakistan. Or maybe that is precisely why, since it is apparently not in the West’s interest to have someone as independent minded as Imran Khan to be in charge there.

The oddest thing, however, is how the Indian media has depicted Imran Khan. Excruciating comparisons with Donald Trump are common across the board, as are jokey references to his supposed fundamentalism and low IQ utterances (and this is across the political divide here, which makes one wonder). The joke is so squarely on these people and on you, if you have bought that colossal falsehood. It is truly odd how many well-known political rivals of Imran Khan are constantly interviewed without ever touching upon the other side. Are they implying that even at this peak of popularity, which makes him the most popular leader of his country in the world in recent times, bar none, they can’t find a voice that provides the other view? Why does Barkha Dutt, of all people, share propaganda of a doctored video against him on her channel with a provocative headline, that is blatantly a lie (which the comments expose)? Reducing a 5 minute moment to about half that. (Here is the video of this press conference; please see from 42–16). Why does none of this get exposed in India? What happens to our so-called liberal champion press in such instances?

Meanwhile, independent Pakistani journalism is thriving and for the most part, far superior to India’s. They very clearly have far more credibility than their legacy or mainstream media, as evidenced from the sheer following they have on social media. No amount of fake news on sold-out channels can sway the Pakistani public today. Not only are these independent journalists more courageous, more honest and far more civil in their interactions than what we’re mostly served up in India, they are literally more cutting edge. The current news audience in Pakistan doesn’t seem to be stuck on peer valuations of media outlets and journalists, like we appear to be in India, as if we’re not capable of thinking for ourselves anymore in the face of excess information. Why the Indian media never asks, for example, the likes of highly respected and widely followed figures such as Moeed Pirzada, Kashif Abbasi, Imran Riaz Khan or Ayaz Amir (samples of their work at the end of this piece) for their views on Pakistani events is the question we should all be asking.

Is this reticence, and blatant misleading most times, influenced in any way by the current Indian government being very uncomfortable about such protests on this scale being so effective? Especially in the context of Shaheen Bagh and the Farmers’ Protest - lower-scale protests than what is occurring in Pakistan currently, but very successful.

As Pakistan literally fights to keep democracy alive through one man and his political party, what is the great lesson in this for us in India? We could start by trying to answer this question — is there a common cause that can actually rally people against the anti-democratic ethos in India today?

But then several other questions rear up. Does such a cause even exist? Or such a leader? And if he does, can he be judged for his fight as per the rules of the terrain that he did not set? And if he can’t (as the evidence with Arvind Kejriwal seems to suggest, or the attempts Rahul Gandhi is making currently), then is it even possible to fight rapidly emerging bigoted majoritarianism with such a bitterly fragmented consciousness? After all, in this country, like our multiple gods, we seem to have as many versions of the truth. What chance do we really have of seeing the big picture? Especially when the dominant side in power has such a single-minded focus that they seem to be willing to pay any price for.

Or, is there a crucial difference between Pakistan and India today? In that their (vast) majority wants the transparency, empathy and (proven) relative competence that Imran Khan’s government brings. While in India, the majority wants the subjugation of minorities, even at the cost of violence and the dismantling of institutions. How many of us truly believe that the latent spark of ugly bigotry that appears to have come to the fore accurately represents our truest selves as a collective? If that were truly the case, why would so much fake news and subterfuge need to be involved? Do we have no other currently latent qualities that can emerge, neutralise and even turn the trajectory in the opposite direction? History overwhelmingly suggests there are.

Meanwhile, the good fight is taking place now, in Pakistan. As single-minded solidarity takes on blatant criminality and an uncouth misuse of power. As of now, there is greater state control in Pakistan (thanks to the Army) than there is in India, and yet, if the side represented by the common man ends up winning there (or even standing its ground without compromise), it would be nothing less than a revolution. For all the convoluted biases and rationalisations by the overeducated classes, in its most basic form, for however dramatic this may sound, it would be the triumph of good over evil.

INDEPENDENT PAKISTANI JOURNALISTS ON THIS SUBJECT

Moeed Pirzada (56, writer/ analyst/ political commentator/ TV host)
A prescient podcast in early-March (foreseeing Imran Khan’s ouster), that also details the false propaganda Imran Khan faced in the last four years.
The contradictions around the ideology attributed to Imran Khan.
An unusually scathing analysis (for someone usually as sanguine as him) of the 3 current power centres in Pakistan.

Kashif Abbasi (47, journalist/ anchor)
On the targeting of journalists in Pakistan today (one of his more memorable shows).
Interviewing a senior PTI leader — about the banning of Imran Khan’s speeches (That moment at 13–32.)
An example of entertaining and informative debate — more easily done without political spokespeople.

Imran Riaz Khan (38, journalist/ anchor/ 3.4 million subscribers on YouTube)
Covering a historic rally by Imran Khan and the difficulties the citizens faced.
How PTI supporters around the country are defying the current government.
Brutally exposing propaganda around Shehbaz Sharif — a la you-know-who. (set; pls see for 3mins).

Senior journalist Ayaz Amir scathing about the current government.
Anchor/ journalist Arshad Sharif going behind the plan to assassinate Imran Khan.

RECENT IMRAN KHAN INTERVIEWS

The relentless clarity of his interviews have been even more in evidence since he was ousted. A small sample here.
ABC, Australia
Sky, UK
Answering tough economic and political questions in Pakistan on Zoom
Interview for an older audience
Podcast for a younger audience

And this was my piece for Gulf Times when Imran Khan became PM in 2018.