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FOR Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, the key to the Prime Minister House lies in understanding the country’s complex political realities.
In a conversation with Dawn during his election campaign in Karachi on Wednesday, Mr Khan said that although he cannot vouch for each of the near 700 national and provincial-level candidates his party has fielded to contest the upcoming elections, he is playing with what exists in Pakistan’s political class.
“You contest elections to win. You don’t contest elections to be a good boy. I want to win. I am fighting elections in Pakistan, not Europe. I can’t import European politicians,” Mr Khan said.
He talked about the importance of manpower and financial resources for a successful election campaign.
PTI chief says Nawaz Sharif tried his best (to mend relations with India). “I will give him the credit. Nawaz Sharif tried everything, even personal [gestures] calling him [Modi] over to his house.”
“After 1997, I came to the conclusion that unless we took people in the party who know the art of winning election, we will not be able to succeed.
“This is not Europe, where all you need to do is tell people what you stand for and they will go out and vote for you. In Pakistan, you need money and thousands of trained polling agents who can bring out people on the day of election. If you do not have those workers, you cannot contest the election.”
Even as his critics question why he has awarded tickets to political turncoats instead of workers who have had a long association with the party, Mr Khan said: “The political class here doesn’t change that much. You can introduce new actors but you can’t change the political class wholesale. This is why I give the example of Mahathir Mohamad, who changed Malaysia with the same political class by giving them clean leadership.”
He denies that he has compromised his ideals by awarding tickets to electables. “It would be a compromise if I did not stick to my objectives after coming into power, and if I did not run a clean government.”
Mr Khan said that the new faces would have to comply with PTI’s policies and discipline, and that those who didn’t would be kicked out.
When asked if his campaign slogan of ‘Naya Pakistan’ is only achievable with a ‘new PTI’, Mr Khan said there was no change in his strategy. “This is a joke going around that I have now gathered electables. I always sought out electables, but before this they were not willing to join us.
“Forget MPAs and MNAs, in the past we have even invited electables from union councils in other cities to join us. It is after the success of the 2011 rally at Minar-i-Pakistan in Lahore that people changed their minds and started to join us.”
Relations with India
While there is very little that the PTI chief would give Nawaz Sharif credit for, when it comes to the former prime minister’s efforts to improve relations with India, Mr Khan concedes that Nawaz tried his best.
“Nawaz Sharif tried his best [to mend relations with India],” said Mr Khan. “I will give him the credit.”
“Nawaz Sharif tried everything, even personal [gestures] calling him [Modi] over to his house. No one got in his way. But I think it is the policy of the Narendra Modi government to try and isolate Pakistan. They have a very aggressive anti-Pakistan posture because Modi wants to blame Pakistan for all the barbarism they are doing in Kashmir. What can one do in the face of this attitude?”
Civil-military relations
Asked how he would tackle the delicate relationship between the civil and military leadership if his party came to power, Mr Khan said good governance would be his strength.
“When you have democratic governments that perform and deliver, that is their strength. We have had military influence on politics in Pakistan because we have had the worst political governments. I am not saying it is justified but where there is a vacuum something will fill it.”
He added: “Under crooked and corrupt governments, people welcome the military with open arms. In 1999 when Musharraf’s martial law was declared, people were celebrating in Lahore – Nawaz’s political centre! – because governance had failed.”
He recalled Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as the strongest prime minister to come through electoral process who was totally in charge of the country’s affairs.
‘Military did not interfere in Bhutto’s govt’
“He [Bhutto] was the strongest prime minister. He dismissed many army officers. No one could say he was not in charge. When people talk about military interference, they should know that the military did not interfere in Bhutto’s government, because he was a powerful prime minister.”
When asked to comment on the military’s influence in setting Pakistan’s foreign policy, Mr Khan said: “The army will get involved where there are security situations. If you look at the US policy in Afghanistan, a lot of the US-Afghan policy was influenced by Pentagon. Even when Barack Obama didn’t want to continue the war in Afghanistan, he did it because he was convinced by Pentagon.”
Possibility of forming coalition
Although he is confident about his chances of making federal government with a simple majority, when asked about an alternative plan, Mr Khan said: “A coalition depends on the partner in question. If the coalition partner allows us to implement our manifesto, it’s fine.”
He added that his party had trouble with former coalition partner Qaumi Watan Party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and that it had to kick out members who resisted their anti-corruption code. “If the head of a political party is corrupt, then it would be difficult to make a coalition with them.”
On eradicating militancy
Although it is a position he has been criticised for, Mr Khan remains adamant on engaging militants in dialogue.
“There has to be a dual policy: one is dialogue and the other is military action. I have been labelled ‘Taliban Khan’ just because I did not agree with this one-dimensional policy that Pakistan implemented under American pressure.”
He said the war in Afghanistan was a classic example of how military solutions alone did not work. “The US has been there for 15 years with a military option but has failed. If there is consensus among the American and Afghan governments and allies that they want unconditional peace talks with Taliban, it means the military option has failed.”
Confidence ahead of polls
“I am as confident as I’ve ever been and more prepared than before,” said Mr Khan.
Ahead of polls on July 25, surveys conducted by the Jang Media Group showed the PTI gaining ground.
A survey by Pulse Consultant showed the PTI ahead with the support of 30 per cent of respondents nationwide, compared to 27pc for the PML-N. The Pakistan Peoples Party was at 17pc.
A separate nationwide poll by Gallup Pakistan had the PML-N on top with 26pc, the PTI with 25pc and the PPP at 16pc.
According to Reuters, the new polls indicate a swing towards Mr Khan’s party compared to similar nationwide polls in 2017 that had put the PML-N 8-9 percentage points ahead of the PTI.
“I don’t know what will happen but I am more optimistic than I have been in my 22 years in politics,” Mr Khan said.
Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2018
Comments (122) Closed
IK will win big time!
Very honest, mature and practical man. I'm confident that good days are coming. Long live Pakistan
Please vote for PTIand IK. Please give them a chance. We have tried and tested PML-N and PPP and we all know what we got in return!
Our enemies don’t want Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi to be elected as PM because they’re scared that he will bring changes in Pakistan
Most candid interview of Mr. Khan since his hard talk with BBC. Thank you dawn for making him speak on sensitive issues.
Then stop calling yourself a change please.
And you realies this after two decades and this the change...
Honest reply . Let’s give him atleast one chance .
If corrupt politicians are spending millions on elections, do you think they will become honest over night after winning? Will they not want to get back their "investment" with interest in the next five years? How is change even possible when elements of change are corrupt??
Considering the nature of the ground and the streak of his politics, it is safe to predict that after polls he is going to be be yelling out, "This is Pakistan, not Malaysia, and I'm Imran Khan Niazi, not Mahathir Mohamad."
That’s a lame excuse , Bhutto , MQM, ANP got elected the candidates that don’t qualify the definition of electables. Even people gave you a chance in nwfp in 2013, in India a chaiwala can become a PM. It just shows your impatience and lack of leadership and political acumen to look for third empire and electables
What a poor logic he has! In 1970 & 1988 elections several poor candidates defeated landlords on PPP ticket. Ali Tareen best example who lost in Lodhran bye election.
It took him "just" 22 years to understand this basic fact.
IK is going by the pragmatist's adage that the end justifies the means. That is arguable but problematic.
I'm not a Imran Khan supporter, but I do like his thinking regards to the electable's, lets be real, there is no loyalty in politics, its all about winning. In reality, in politics, in Pakistan, I much rather have Imran Khan's thinking than say the Sharif's or Zardari's. why? Its simple, IK may not have the best ideas at the moment, but his desire to move Pakistan in a positive direction is much much deeper than Nawaz Sharif or Asif Zardari's. If I'm going to give someone a chance to prove themselves, its going to be Imran Khan this time, Nawaz and Zardari have burnt all their bridges with me. There is no going back to either one of them.
While in every Jalsa IK used to refer Europe, Japan, Germany but now though late he realised he is running for the political office in Pakistan. I am not sure how long he and his team will now take to assess Pakistani problems and utilizing domestic resources to achieve better results.
With just 19 days to go, Imran has got to watch every word that comes out of his mouth.
Good and a logical interview by IK.
It is good that he has acknowledged "change" in his politics. So, PTI is now like any other political party in Pakistan and Imran Khan stands with those big shots in politics who could not make it to the highest public office so far.
We are wiyh you Khan please vote for PTI because it is vote for our kids future.
how will they recover that money?
IK is merely stating the facts.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with him.
Good luck, Khan! ✌
Its ironic that we have no honest people in Pakistan. At least this is what he thinks. You don't go to win. You change system and its gradual process. What legacy will you leave? Whats difference between you, PPP and PMLn?
Very solid and mature answers from IK. Exactly what the nation needs and what he stands for. All the classes should try to understand the logic and ground realtieies.
What I particularly liked is how he spoke based on facts and how it leads to his standing and values.
All te best, Mr. Imran.
Sorry but to millions of real PTI supporters principles still are more important than electables and money. Millions of us always voted for PTI but now we see no party standing with the principles of fairness, tolerance, justice and change. Good bye real PTI and welcome to the opportunistic PTI. Not my party.
so where has your 20 year struggle gone? If this was to be done, you should have done this 20 years ago. Your desperation are just to become PM. Bcz people now know ur capability from last 5 years of KPK.
Pathetic statement. MQM and JI commoners have been winning elections without money.
He is absolutely right in saying this but revolutions have made their way without such ingredients. Quaid e Azam, Mandela, Mao, Che, Mahathir, Gandhi etc. have all drove their campaigns with commoners and eventually succeeded. Either IK should stop talking about revolution/Naya Pakistan or he should bluntly confess that he does not want more than mere power and that too by employing conventional tactics
IK you have wasted years of development in Pakistan. Title of the article is enough for us "You can’t win without electables and money".
I fully agree with Imran Khan. Lots of honest people from Pakistan and overseas Pakistanis are ready to help succeed honest government of PTI AND Pakistan.
This is what our politics is all about ..... Richer the better!
Then what is difference between PTI, PMLN and PPP when same faces represent each party in different elections.
@Sanity Why vote for PTI when they have all electable representing them in 2018 elections.
@Asim Fully support your thoughts
@Desh bandhu Chopra IK will lose election in big way. Be ready
@Javed IK speak first and think later.
@AXH Facts of someone losing elections
@Hasaaan Immature reply by IK as expected
IK is truthful which needs to be highly appreciated which is an anomaly in our political culture. Nation should elect him because others have been tried and tested many times resulting in complete failure of sham democracy
Someone needs to clean up the system of wadera, tehseeldars and other bigwigs who control votes at the local level, and this reform can only happen if you are in government.
All the good areas are worthless if you are sitting powerless in opposition.
@Jadun Agreed
@Nafees Naeem Yeah you are right
@Usher Agree with you.
Voting for Imran Khan this time around inshallah.
It’s a fact you cannot win elections without money anywhere around the world and in Pakistan you also need electables.
In the current socio-economical turmoil, PTI is the best option Pakistanis have to vote for. We can never have an ideal Pakistan unless we as responsible citizens stand against every injustice or inequality happening around us.
Very nice Khan Sb. As for as my understanding is concerned IK is the most mature politician in the current lot. And his thinking is this very interact with media is more balanced. Of-course he will get more maturity with the passage of time...Best of Luck of PTI and IK.
So what he will say after winning the elections ( It is not possible to solve all the Country's problem in 5 years so we need money to win the next elections so we will have to some corruption)
It means there is no difference between you and others
Imaran Khan - Prime Minister of Pakistan. We have tried all others, why not him, what is wrong with that.
Spot on when he says, you can't fight elections like you do in Europe. Pakistan is still way behind that type of democracy, but am sure with PTI coming to power it will get one step closer to such a model.
Vote PTI and vote for a change - Pakistan desperately needs it.
@Anti-Corruption Well said.
Pakistan Zindabad!
@Maekhor Better late then never
@jaredlee007 where is tabdeeli. Mr khan is acting like any other corrupt poltician of pakistan.
@Asim in India a Chaiwala can become PM? Are you sure about this? you must know of some examples which everyone else is unaware of? Please share....
Pakistan might not be able to get a chaiwala to be PM but it is on the verge of electing an ex-cricket player to that post which is an achievement in itself.
Hello Mr. Imran ! ever heard about people's trust. I think that is what you need in democracy.Start giving tickets to honest and middle class. Electables will come down like house of cards.
@BhaRAT : so millions of Pakistani who will vote for PMLN and PPP are anti pakistani? first thing you need to learn about democracy is that people think differently...
I am a supporter of IK/PTI but never fully agreed with his statements and policies, but first time in the long interview, IK talking sanity on every matter and he is not doing bashing just for the sake of disagreeing with whatever PMLN is doing. The money and electable he is talking about is the unfortunate ground reality one has to realize, in our current political setup you can not just say that you are honest and lets make a government. Once by going through this you can come and perhaps change this political setup of the country.
people that elect corrupt politicians are not victims but accomplices.,
Wait till PMLN start their elections campaign... They are professionals at this. All that matters is if you are able to get your people out on election day. PMLN voter is a silent voter... Comes out on election day.
Very nice and mature interview.
He want to bring change in Pakistan with corrupt people in his team, when people help you win they also take share in the rule, so forget any change if PTI wins now, I and my whole family will now vote for PMLN......
So PTI have conveniently changed the word “status quo” to “electables”
Naya Pakistan mubarak to all PTI supporters.
It means that your slogan of Naya Pakistan was aimed at attracting masses and nothing else.
As time passess this man is becoming more and more unreliable and contradictory to his own old thoughts. He has played with the sentiments of his own followers who actually had faith in him that he is out to bring change in the country. But now he is playing the same old school politics in Pakistan by bringing in same old corrupt faces in his party just with this lame excuse of electables knowing the art of winning elections. His frame of mind shows he has gelled in well into the corrupt political culture and we as the people should not expect for any miraculous change to happen after 25th July 2018.
People should realise that change comes about because of strong and honest leadership. Change comes from the top. Policies are enforced from the top. People are the same but an honest leader can change the fortunes of a society. Look at Malaysia’s Mahathir for instance. The people and the party were the same but the change happened because of his strong and honest leadership. He is not corrupt.
We in India expect Imran to be game changer.He is respected as a cricketer.Hope he will be able to command similar respect as politician.
as he give up his principles for gaining powers,he wiil do the same for sustaining his powers,,,,,,IK depends on detectable for wining pm seat, how he can impose party policies on them,,,,,,,,,,,,if he become PM he will not be much different from former pm meer Zafrullah khan Jamali.
@Daim do you know the revolution isn't a formula to have new faces it's a mixture of old and new but ideology is what that matter.
How many hospitals did you build in kpk? How many universities?
I disagree with IK on 'electables'. In Pakistan we have examples of charismatic leaders who won elections without electables. For example, when MQM contests its first election during 1980s, neither it has electables nor it has money but it won the elections because at that time MQM founder was considered to be as a charismatic leader.
Real change!
Benazir also came to the same conclusion in 1990 when IJI was dashing out the money to buy votes and she asked his partymen to build money to contest next elections . Then that rate race never ended and converted PPP a liberal democratic party of 70s became most corrupt party of Asia. Same is going to happen with PTI. No change then.
Very articulate and mature responses. People can complain but we still support baradaris,marry in same baradaris. Vote for the chaudhary in the village.An honest leader and he will have to work on nation building (educate them,create awareness and state building (institutions). We are with you IK. Let's do this!
@Asim Why compare with MQM PPP ANP, just look at the ppl got elected in KPK in the last elections. None of them were electables, nobody knew them ppl vote for change.
QWP was kicked out from coalition because of their corruption, then they were taken back and now 3 of their MPAs. including khalid khan and sultan khan have joined PTI and contesting elections on PTI tickets.
Wishing you all the best ,Mr.Imran Khan. It's very obvious you genuinely want to bring about a change! Especially for Karachi,it's in a terrible state.. Wish Mr.Mustafa Kamaal and Mr Imran Khan would join to make Karachi a clean place with no shortage of water and electricity.They seem to be the only people with genuine intention of making a 'better' Pakistan!
With the passage of time, Imran Khan has learnt the hard realities of Pakistani politics. He's got more realistic and adapting to the changes. Pakistan must vote for Imran Khan.
The speak of a world class statesman. Impressive indeed. Lets give Imran a chance.
And if Pmln and PPP collobrate with each other and Shabaz would get the PM and Zardari the President than!
Pakistanis Please vote IMRAN KHAN. He will change Pakistan mentality as he did of Pakistan cricket team. Remember Pakistan cricket team before he lead them they were A MEEK group of people and ever since they have been able to hold their own on the international stage.
Under IK Pakistan will become an educated nation rather tan illiterate one that exists today.He will unite the nation and extract best out of the people of Pakistan.
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.
I will never vote for Imran Khan because all he does is take U-turns. Then he brings people like Amir Liaquat onboard. Never voting for him.
@Mohit(US) someone needs to tell NS that who thinks everyone and everything in disagreement with him is part of a big agenda
Its Khans time! Just make sure these crooks dont rig elections
He is 100 percent right. However, if he has to follow the path of traditional politics and politicians in the "Land of the Pure," to win the elections, how is he or PTI different than others?
yesterday he said "a society is recognized by its middle class not by its riches"
It is not the West European politicians. The success of Western Europe is based entirely on their values of rule of law, accountability, tolerance, and justice - for ALL. How does this work?; independent and effective institutions; and they have these. Politicians and the rest of the public have to stay within the law or they would be punished; simple. It is far from a perfect system, but multiple times superior to what we have got in Pakistan. No wonder we are exploited, and exploit, and are impoverished and go around with a begging bowl, especially since the Bhuttos/Sharifs took over. Until the instututions, especially, the courts and judges, become independent and effective; we shall continue to suffer. PTI has to work efficiently and IK should take charge and start communicating at individual and group level with his party workers to have any chance of success in the General Elections. IK has got to be fair and seen to be fair, especially by those who WORK for the party. Long live Pakistan and may it soon become a fair and progressive nation - as our Quaid wanted and worked for; Ameen!
Late Pir Pagara was defeated by PPP candidate and there are so many examples where strong parties defeated without money or electables..
So you are saying that the only thing you want is power? But we already knew that.
You cannot achieve your objectives if your team is full of compromised people anyway. Nothing will change even after you win
@Kashif Malik "I disagree with IK on 'electables'. In Pakistan we have examples of charismatic leaders who won elections without electables. " He's talking about Punjab. You can win all seats in the rest of the country, but if another wins all in Punjab, you're done. In Punjab, it is increasingly impossible for a person to be elected if he doesn't command large pockets of votes. These people have their own interests. IK just realized that his mantra about change doesn't ring a bell in those ears. So he is playing the music that make them dance. What is to be seen is whether IK is able to handle them or not. Apparently, he's not because he came back after rejecting them. That's an admission that he realizes his past mistake, they'll be bolder now.
@Jadun very rightly said.
With such distorted base, there will only be chaos and further battering to the economy, in case he succeeds. He must be stopped on reaching the top slot.
So last time you didn’t put your electable in election or all electable were with NS. So what was dharma about was there rigging in election ?????
Great interview by IK. He is getting better day by day.
Far ahead of any of the other party leaders.
He will get the best out of everyone.
Vote PTI, vote for Imran.
This is the sixer by Imran Khan that was required in 2013 elections. Anyhow its never too late.
Once IK promised that he will not go for the bad crowd from PPP/PML-N, will select the most pious people, his supporters applauded his intentions, now he has made another U-Turn and I see another barrage of loud Bravo from his supporters. This is called blind faith.
Good days are coming I think, hope you don’t let our nation down mr khan
IK sounds like he is ready
Only one leader who did not compromise with his ideology in Pakistan: Dr. Tahir ul Qadri. He is reformer. History recalling only those personalities who did not compromise with his objectives.
So winning is the goal at any cost? Those delectable spending lot of money, they are not throwing away the money for any reason, they plan to recoup it.
so where is the "CHANGE"?
It takes guts to call spade a spade in politics. Hats off to imran. Best of luck to Pakistani's trying to find change in the system.
Idealism is gone with the wind, IK now talks about the ground reality.
If that's Imran's criteria; then what is different between him and Nawaz or Zadari?
He should now rename his party as Pakistan Muslim League (Imran)
My best wishes to him, he is right, if, the top is clean, it hardly makes any difference what the bottom is doing, Institutions are there to catch them.
Friends of zardari in pti are so many that it is essentially same if you address pti as ppp or ppp as pti ..... Seriously¡!!!!!!!!
Then he should not hoodwink the nation with 'change' mantra. It is only going to be a change of face(s). And in some cases even that won't happen, with electables winning.
PTI has CHANGED
Thats what President Musharraf used to say when he had to allign himslef with the same politicians that he cannot import people from outside Pakistan.
Then don't win. Who is asking you to win? just be in opposition and do what you are doing.. which is a great service anyway.
@Maekhor, Yes, at least he realized it, even if took a decade, look at Nawaz Sharif, after three decades, he still hasn't learned.
@Jadun, Its not a personal investment, that money comes from donors, followers, supporters. The only investment is their time and efforts, and above all, their honest intentions, clear path, good planning, solid message, fulfilling the promises made.
The day khan is elected as prime minister, will be the dawn of positive change for Pakistan
@asif Society and realities of winning the elections are two worlds apart.
@Medu, You totally missed the boat brother.
@Ahmad, Its quite obvious, you cannot win with principles alone, you need money, you need leaders that will bank the votes. Just look at Zaedari and Nawaz, they both won without principles.
Pakistan need change and they need it now so PTI to me seems the right option!!!