FT calls Imran Khan threat to democracy

LONDON: Once an ‘exceptional all-rounder, a graceful batsmen’, Imran Khan is now pushing as hard as he can to claim the most coveted slot of Pakistan’s premiership, said non other than one of the most reputed International daily - Financial Times.

The paper says ‘seemingly hell-bent on becoming prime minister at whatever cost to his country – he (Imran Khan) makes a far less edifying spectacle (his ongoing sit-ins in Islamabad).’

It said Imran Khan along with Tahirul Qadri is calling for the resignation of Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister whose election last year marked the first democratic transition in Pakistan’s 67-year history. “He has, however, taken his protest too far. In his stubbornness, he threatens to tear the very democratic fabric he claims to be protecting.”

It says Khan may well be right about irregularities in last year’s elections. He rightly laments the poor performance of the incumbent government which has failed to overcome the energy crisis and adopted a confused policy in connection with terrorism.

“Mr Sharif, who has been prime minister twice before, appears almost bored with the job, taking long trips abroad and rarely bothering to show up in parliament. None of this, however, justifies Mr Khan’s determination to force Mr Sharif’s resignation and plunge the nuclear-armed country of 200m people into political crisis,” the FT observes.

The UK-based paper also criticizes the cricketer-turned politician for the campaign that has caused ‘significant damage’.

“Xi Jinping, China’s president, cancelled last week’s visit to Islamabad, adding insult to injury by spending an extra day in India, Pakistan’s arch rival.”

The paper says the government-PTI stand-off also risks bringing the military back into politics.

“The army has been able to present itself as a neutral “third force”, a mirage in a country that has been under military rule for almost half of its independent years. Mr Khan has vehemently denied suggestions that he is being manipulated by the military, which is angry with Mr Sharif for pursuing the prosecution of Pervez Musharraf, a former military ruler, and for trying to seize control of foreign policy.”

The Yet Mr Khan’s actions are playing into the hands of those who would bring the whole shaky democratic edifice toppling down, FT continues.

It says at least Mr Sharif, unlike Mr Khan, has shown some appetite for compromise.

“Nawaz has agreed to several opposition demands, including a judicial inquiry into last year’s election and discussion of electoral reforms. He must not sully this by resorting to arbitrary arrests of opposition forces or violent suppression of demonstrators. Above all, he should concentrate on re-energising his lacklustre government and tackling the country’s urgent problems.”

“Cynics will argue that this proves many countries in Asia lack the institutional foundations on which to build a stable democracy. There is some truth in this. But what is the alternative? Rule by the military or by unelected technocrats installed by force? It is the duty of Pakistan’s warring political elites to show that democracy can be better than that.”