By Seema Khan
‘Imran Khan’ is a very familiar name in India and Indian media. The media has been covering him as a cricket Captain. He played 52 matches with India winning half of them and loosing half.
And now the Captain has become the Sultan. His reverse swing had terrorized many cricket players in Indian team. His swing also destroyed the parties of Sharifs and Bhuttos.
Effect of that reverse swing however is yet to be seen on India-Pakistan relationship, which has reached, and stayed, at the lowest point for last four years.
It’s a landmark event for the subcontinent – a cricket player becoming the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The big question is - will it change Pakistan, and, will it change India-Pakistan relationship?
Indian media reaction has not been very positive or optimistic. Imran Khan seem to have noticed it when he said that Indian media has been portraying him as if he was a Bollywood villain.
He is the first Pashtun to become the Prime Minister. He is oxford educated with good manners and charismatic personality, and has a lot of fans in India. But it didn’t seem to have impressed the Indian media. An Indian journalist even called him a ruthless, ambitious politician of the day.
It is widely discussed in both Indian and Pakistani circles that the Pakistani army laid the Pitch for his victory by sending Nawaz Shaiff to Jail before elections.
Indian media mostly believes that Imran khan is on the same wave length with the Pakistan army, and will be a puppet in its hands.
Will the army let him play his cards? Lt. General Rakesh Sharma, a defense expert, believes that it is the Pakistan army that handles Jammu and Kashmir and the Boarder security issues. It will not let Imran Khan has his way.
There is another reason why the Indian media is thinks that he will follow the army command. It is the first time in Pakistan history that a civilian government was followed by a civilian government. Prior to this, it has been a civilian government followed by a military government, indicating that the army laid the pitch for him. It is a common thinking in India that he will merely be a rubber stamp of the Pakistan army.
Though Imran has the maximum numbers in Parliament, with Nawaz Sharif leading in Punjab and Bhutto in Sindh, he will need support to form a government. This will lead to a downsized Prime Ministership, making his government vulnerable. Some believe that if he does not toe the army line, the rug will be pulled from under his feet.
Mr. Ashraf Jahanger Quazi, the Pakistan Ambassador to India, believes that Imran Khan will not stay in office for a minute if he is interfered with. He has got ambitious agenda that includes good relations with India.
Mr Ashraf also believes that Khan will consult the army when required, but will not be dictated. He will be the sole decision maker, as he had done as a Cricket Captain. According to him, it is going to be a one man show which the media is very skeptical about.
Mr. Ashraf Quazi was angry with the Indian media for speculating and forming a negative opinion before Imran Khan took office. He was furious for people drawing conclusions that he is not a true person and the army and Taliban will not let him function.
Mr. Parthasarathy, a former Ambassador to Pakistan, is of the opinion that there are a few things tike 26/11 Mumbai attack that India will not be able to forget.
Another objection the Indian Media has is that, in his speech, while stressing on keeping good relation with neighboring countries, Imran Khan mentioned India Sixth, after Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arab, China and Sri Lanka. Why India was mentioned last? Though childish it may sound, it has been a hot debate on most of the Indian television channels.
When discussing on a range of issues, from Afghanistan to Kashmir, why terrorism was not mentioned, asked Indian media. They expected him to say something about Mumbai attack, justice for 157people killed in those attacks, the cross boarder violence, and attack on Pathankot Army Base.
The media think that Imran’s talk on improving relationship with India, increasing trade, and discussing the Kashmir issues by sitting across the table are nothing different to what the politicians before him have said. Many in India are doubtful whether he will walk the talk.
There are objections to his references to the presence of Indian army in Kashmir, and human right violations in the state.
He is also being accused of comprising controversial views. He stated on anti-corruption agenda, religious extremist groups, looked up to Taliban, and drone attacks. He made a concerted effort to make himself relevant to Pakistani people.
Indian media believes that on international issues he is going to tread the army line, and on domestic issues he is going to try to fix the economy.
Unfortunately, he has inherited a Pakistan that is financially bankrupt and dancing on China tune. Foreign exchange reserves are low.
Given the situation, his first task will be to bail the country out of debt, with the help of IMF, US or China. It’s only after that he will be able to focus on relations with India.
The sticking point in building relationship with India will be issues like Kashmir, Hafiz Sayeed, handing over Dawood Ibharim, and taking actions against 26/11 Bombay blast culprits.
Some journalist unfairly went on to compare him with Hafiz Sayeed, a fairly hated name in India, saying that the only difference between him and Imran Khan is that the he is oxford educated and better groomed.
Both have the same agenda according to Indian media. Indian TV recalled recent history that Atal Bihari Vajpayee went to Lahore and the result was Kargil war, a meeting with Parvez Mushraf in Agra was followed by an attack on Indian Parliament, a dialogue with Pakistan in 2008 and the result was Mumbai attack in 2008.”
Indian think tank and social media groups think that, since he took the help of extremist groups to win the elections, there will be main streaming of Taliban. They think that batting will be done by Pakistan army and bowling by ISI (Inter Service Agency), reducing Imran Khan to a Puppet in their hands.
As an Indian Journalist, I feel that he deserves a better credit and treatment from the Indian media. With a large circle of Indian friends, he is familiar with India and the Indians. He is a patient person who struggled 26 years to reach where he is today. In his first election attempt he lost all his seats. In his second attempt, he could secure only his seat. He boycotted the third election, and was jailed by Parvez Mushraf.
He appears to be an honest, simple and humble person, who feels about the poor and his country.
A started in politics with a lone voice from scratch, facing all odds, and, after 26 years, reaching to a place where he is, reflects his endurance and persistence. His victory is a victory against the dynastic rule of Shariffs and Bhuttos. He is an agent of change, a change which both Pakistan and India need for a better relationship.
He definitely deserves better treatment by the Indian media. Shashi Tharoor described him as a perfect face, with a friendly, modern, cosmopolitan personality, and with an ambitious agenda we hope will see a better Pakistan, and improved relationship with India.
