THE LAST WORD
He is one of Pakistans leading philanthropists, a consistent critic of the war on terror, andas chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insafconsidered by some as a politician whose better days are still ahead of him. Newsweek Pakistans Miranda Husain spoke with former cricket star Imran Khan in Lahore recently. Excerpts:
The debate over the blasphemy laws has taken a murderous turn with the assassinations of Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer and minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti. What is your read of the situation?
Both assassinations have to be strongly condemned. Minorities are the responsibility of the people of Pakistan. But if we didnt have the blasphemy laws, there would be vigilantism. We have been consistent in saying that the blasphemy laws must not be misused. There should be checks. Pakistan needs to have rule of law, the weak need to be protected from the powerful.
Some politicians have claimed, without evidence, that Bhattis murder was a Western plot to destabilize Pakistan. Do you agree?
[Incarcerated CIA contractor] Raymond Davis is a typical case where people feel these armed mercenaries are roaming around Pakistan freely. What is their agenda? What was his? So its sparked all sorts of rumors. Which sovereign country allows this to happen? And if these mercenaries could be working for the CIA, they could also be working for a country that wants to see Pakistan destabilized.
Islam is often only discussed here within the context of the war on terror, is a delinking of the two possible?
There are people who think this is an American war, a war against Islam. They dont consider it a war on terror. The polarization is such that either you are pro-Islam and anti-America, or pro-America and anti-Islam. Lets not forget about all the scholars who have been bombed in the mosques for saying suicide bombings are against Islamic teachings. The Awami National Party has had so many of its workers killed because they were perceived to be pro-America. And lets not forget about the Shias and the Ahmadis who have been attacked. While the VIPs have bulletproof cars and the Elite Force is defending them, the common people are unprotected.
How would you respond to liberal critics who equate your opposition to the war on terror as appeasement of extremists?
They are not really liberals. Tariq Ali is a real, anti-imperialist liberal and people like him are anti- this war on terror, antimilitary operations in the tribal areas and anti- the occupation of Afghanistan. In fact, the Western liberals are all toeing my line. Real liberals will never back the campaign of extrajudicial killings which is taking place, whether by the Pakistan Army in the tribal areas or by the Americans through drones. No humanitarian law allows you to be judge, jury, and executioner. But the so-called liberals who are keeping quiet about this are actually encouraging extremism in this country. They are petrified of a Taliban takeover in Pakistan. They do not understand that that there can never be Talibanization of Pakistan. But we can get into chaos thanks to this war on terror.
The Obama administration is to provide $7.5 billion over five years in nonmilitary assistance to Pakistan. Will this help us?
Its a payoff to these crooks, our leaders. This money is not helping the people of Pakistan because poverty is rising at an alarming rate. Our debt has gone up. In 60 years, the debt was Rs. 4.5 trillion. The foreign debt alone now is Rs. 9 trillion. Weve doubled our debt in three years because of the crooks who are now running the show.
Some of our news anchors and even politicians have said Pakistanis should emulate the Egyptians in forcing regime change. Is this the way forward?
Pakistan has already had its Egypt moment. We are way ahead of Egypt because the two-year-long movement to restore the chief justice to office was actually a movement for rights, just as it is in the Middle East and North Africa. The movement was hijacked twice by the status quo in the shape of the [opposition party] Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz). This movement for rights is going to happen again now, and no one will be able to stop it.
From the March 21 2011 issue
The debate over the blasphemy laws has taken a murderous turn with the assassinations of Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer and minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti. What is your read of the situation?
Both assassinations have to be strongly condemned. Minorities are the responsibility of the people of Pakistan. But if we didnt have the blasphemy laws, there would be vigilantism. We have been consistent in saying that the blasphemy laws must not be misused. There should be checks. Pakistan needs to have rule of law, the weak need to be protected from the powerful.
Some politicians have claimed, without evidence, that Bhattis murder was a Western plot to destabilize Pakistan. Do you agree?
[Incarcerated CIA contractor] Raymond Davis is a typical case where people feel these armed mercenaries are roaming around Pakistan freely. What is their agenda? What was his? So its sparked all sorts of rumors. Which sovereign country allows this to happen? And if these mercenaries could be working for the CIA, they could also be working for a country that wants to see Pakistan destabilized.
Islam is often only discussed here within the context of the war on terror, is a delinking of the two possible?
There are people who think this is an American war, a war against Islam. They dont consider it a war on terror. The polarization is such that either you are pro-Islam and anti-America, or pro-America and anti-Islam. Lets not forget about all the scholars who have been bombed in the mosques for saying suicide bombings are against Islamic teachings. The Awami National Party has had so many of its workers killed because they were perceived to be pro-America. And lets not forget about the Shias and the Ahmadis who have been attacked. While the VIPs have bulletproof cars and the Elite Force is defending them, the common people are unprotected.
How would you respond to liberal critics who equate your opposition to the war on terror as appeasement of extremists?
They are not really liberals. Tariq Ali is a real, anti-imperialist liberal and people like him are anti- this war on terror, antimilitary operations in the tribal areas and anti- the occupation of Afghanistan. In fact, the Western liberals are all toeing my line. Real liberals will never back the campaign of extrajudicial killings which is taking place, whether by the Pakistan Army in the tribal areas or by the Americans through drones. No humanitarian law allows you to be judge, jury, and executioner. But the so-called liberals who are keeping quiet about this are actually encouraging extremism in this country. They are petrified of a Taliban takeover in Pakistan. They do not understand that that there can never be Talibanization of Pakistan. But we can get into chaos thanks to this war on terror.
The Obama administration is to provide $7.5 billion over five years in nonmilitary assistance to Pakistan. Will this help us?
Its a payoff to these crooks, our leaders. This money is not helping the people of Pakistan because poverty is rising at an alarming rate. Our debt has gone up. In 60 years, the debt was Rs. 4.5 trillion. The foreign debt alone now is Rs. 9 trillion. Weve doubled our debt in three years because of the crooks who are now running the show.
Some of our news anchors and even politicians have said Pakistanis should emulate the Egyptians in forcing regime change. Is this the way forward?
Pakistan has already had its Egypt moment. We are way ahead of Egypt because the two-year-long movement to restore the chief justice to office was actually a movement for rights, just as it is in the Middle East and North Africa. The movement was hijacked twice by the status quo in the shape of the [opposition party] Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz). This movement for rights is going to happen again now, and no one will be able to stop it.
