[ See SAJA Resources about the Assassination of Benazir Bhutto and its Aftermath ]
Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan spoke to a full house of about 250 New Yorkers this morning at a joint Asia Society-SAJA event moderated by Kiran Khalid, SAJA board member (and director of "We Are Not Free," a film about media censorship in Pakistan). PHOTO: Paresh Gandhi/India Abroad.
“I heard you hosted the envoys of Musharaff,” Khan, said, referring to an earlier event at the same venue. “I hope Asia Society gave them a suitable reception.”
He cited a statement he had received from the Pakistani Interior Ministry, which said that all political leaders must look after their own security.
“That was reassuring,” he said.
His criticisms of President Pervez Musharaff were plenty, though not overbearing, as most of them came with a tinge of humor.
Generals believe in bombing. If weak, bomb them, if strong…retreat.
If he gets away with the election, we are doomed to another dictatorship. Pakistan can’t have five more years of Musharraf.
Someone who could fake sincerity like that, he’s brilliant at it. I fell for it.
The one that got the most applause from audience was:
They don’t have a vision to run a country. Generals should be given projects…like, Go capture that hill!
Khan spent a major portion of his time talking about the inefficient ways in which Musharaff government was fighting extremism in Pakistan. Personally, I thought his knowledge about the problems underlying the tribal regions in Waziristan and Swat were very impressive. Not only did he outline the chronology of problems in these tribal regions, he also gave some ramifications of the way Musharaff government is handling this issue. "Unless a different strategy is acquired, we are going to be in serious trouble," he said.
Listening to Khan talk with ease and confidence about history, economics, world affairs and more, it's easy to forget that he is sort of the Michael Jordan of Pakistani cricket. I can't imagine Jordan or any major American sports figure being able to do anything like this.
He said that the upcoming elections on Feb. 18 would witness “the mother of all rigging.”
How is a man with less than 5 percent support win without the most ingenuous rigging of all times?
I will give you in writing – 18th February will be the lowest turnout in Pakistan history.
Here is an article in the NPR that says Khan Brings Anti-Musharaff Efforts to the U.S.
In an effort to change that image of Musharraf, Khan met this week with U.S. congressional leaders and spoke before audiences at a Washington think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and at the National Press Club.
Asked by a TV reporter whether he would accept a power-sharing agreement with Musharraf, Khan replies, "Absolutely not."
An article on AFP says Khan called on the United States to pressure Musharraf to reinstate sacked top judges or face the prospect of Kenya-type post-election violence.
"The chances are that we would have a Kenya-type situation, where people are not going to accept their election results" and "the country will sink into a deeper crisis," warned Khan, leader of the marginal Tehrik-e-Insaaf (Movement for Justice) party, which is boycotting the polls.
Any thoughts? Post them below.
