Doctored Pitch

While Nawaz Sharif faces the fight of his life, Imran Khan, backed by the army, hopes for a much improved show in the upcoming polls

- Mandira Nayar

 

In Pakistan, the word of the moment is tabdeli (change). And, the poster-boy of this change, quite reminiscent of what Barack Obama brought to the United States, is the ageing, yet charismatic, Imran Khan. The only captain to win the cricket World Cup for Pakistan, Imran is now being projected as the messiah of a country that longs for change. He has captured the imagination of the young, and is believed to have the backing of the establishment in the upcoming elections in Pakistan. His campaign even has a theme song for the elections, scheduled to be held on July 25.

After the euphoria of Eid, the battle for the national and provincial legislatures is hotting up. The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) is among the prime contenders, although its most charismatic leader, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, is barred from contesting. Other prominent parties include Imran’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Pakistan Peoples Party. The campaign has become intense, and the battle is being fought on social media, too. The reaction to Imran’s ex-wife Reham Khan’s allegedly tell-all book clearly points towards the growing viciousness surrounding the elections.

For Pakistan, these elections are about democracy, and also about hope. “The real issue at the moment is vision,’’ said Abid Beli, an entrepreneur-turned politician. Beli, who was among the first to open a cybercafe in Pakistan way back in 1998, has entered politics, hoping to be the change that he wants to see. “We have, so far, tried the politicians and none of them have the answers,” he said. “I worked in the constituency from where I am contesting. The choice is clear. Do people want a change? Or, will they continue to vote for politicians who have proven themselves to be bankrupt?’’