Cricket legend Imran Khan revitalises political scene

An overnight rally by cricket legend Imran Khan here stunned many but it has been looked upon as a breath of fresh air in the suffocating bipartisan political scenario. Over 100,000 people, mostly young people, women and families rallied for seven long hours from Sunday afternoon, on the opposite side of the mausoleum of founding father Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Within the one-kilometre radius of ground where the rally was held roads were jammed with buses, cars, auto rickshaws, motorbikes and pedestrians waving the red and green flag of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf, Khan's party, whose prime slogan is providing justice to the masses. "Our religion's main thrust is on humanity and justice but these two things are rare to find in our country," Khan told the charged rally waving the flags. "Our first priority is to establish a strong judicial system in the country," Khan said seemingly narrating his priorities of the next election manifesto. Analysts said that it was one of the biggest rallies in recent times and no political party except the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) could have attracted such a huge crowd and it paved the way for much-needed change in the country. "It has been a good change for Pakistan," said Dr Shaista Tabassum, chairman of the International Relations department at Karachi University. Like India, the PTI could be a third political party and choice for the people faced with a dilemma of two political parties, the Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan Peoples Party. "Now it would not be bipartisanism any more and like India people would have another fair choice to vote for," Dr Tabassum said. Other analysts agree with Dr Tabassum. "This is a clear sign of the failure of the two largest parties in the country and it indicates people's rejection of the duo," Talat Masoud, a prominent political analyst said. Space for change For past four decades the two political parties PPP and PML have formed the government in Islamabad by allying with other provincial parties. The governments of the two parties were forced out twice each by the junta mostly on the pretext of corruption and inefficiency. The cyclical government of the two parties, however, made no significant change in uplifting people and the country — rather the political and economic situation deteriorated — creating space for a change. "I think people are wanting a vital change now and they see Imran as an agent of change," Masoud, who is a retired general, said. Youngsters, who attended the rally were excited to see Khan. "I joined the PTI because I felt that this is a now-or-never situation," said bearded Danish Ahmad, who is an audit internee at a business school. Another youth shared the same views. "We want positive change and we want this society based on justice— that's our primary need," said Kamran Khan, a business graduate, wrapped in a PTI flag.