My video on Imran Khan

[tor_khan]

Maseed Jaana - I love the cross between the estuary pronunciation and the slight presence of your flat Northern vowels. Very familiar!

Pakistan needs an acceptable 'western' face every now and then. Someone who fits the international bill and also manages to play to the disaffected voices at home. Imran cuts that cake just nicely. Someone to step into the shoes of Bhutto Senior, Bhutto Junior and so on.

Pakistani politicians using Islam when it suits and democracy when it suits is formulaic, but what I want to understand how Imran Khan's version of shariah - iShariah (i for Imran) differs from the Taliban version (tShariah?) in Swat that was in the end not welcomed uniformly by the inhabitants.

Imran doesn't use the words, but the Roti, Kapra, Makan (bread/clothes/food) type sloganism has been used before in Pakistan to a generation of hopefuls before.

[Admin Khan]

I like your accent.

Nice analysis Maseed. It takes guts to get on video to record, so props on that. I would have to wait to see how things foil out. I am however, a firm believer that without the backing of the ISI, it's nearly impossible to become a president in Pakistan. So things might not change. I do hope history proves me wrong.

[Ghundal]

^maybe I am confused Tor-Khan, but when exactly did Imran Khan endorse Sharia? this is news to me.

What Imran Khan has said is he will end Pakistan support for the US war, have talks with TTP, and also diplomatically move forward in assisting the US to exit from Afghanistan as he considers the US presence the source of instability

It is because of these positions of his that he is named Talib Khan, but like Soldat points out himself this description makes no sense.

Now where does Imran Khan talk about Sharia?

Does opposition to the US war and occupation of Afghanistan equate to being pro-Sharia?

So then what's the opposite of that then? Does pro-occupation and war then equate to being pro secular? Even that makes no sense since pro war in regards to Afghanistan would equate to being pro-stooge.

People of Pakistan and the region are opposed to Pakistans support for the US war and Imran's opposition to PaK support is central to his plans as pm
I don't know how his foreign policy has anything to do with how he sees Islam and government

Or how his wish to put an end to the US war in Afghanistan has anything at all to do with his views on Sharia

[tor_khan]

In respect of Sharia, and the events that led to the war in Swat ... here's a link to the video and here's the transcript in Romanised Urdu. Note that whilst the Swatis wanted a return to the old system of justice, opposition to the Taliban version of it was strong.

20090121_KalTak.mp4

IK: dekhiyay, sharamnaak baat yeh hai keh hum kehtay hain… hum musalman hain aur shariat say dar jaatay hain. Shariat kya hai? Shariat nabi (SAW) ka rasta hai. Yeh aap ki… agar aap musalman hain tau aap shariat pay chalna chahtay hain. humain khauf hai shariat ka naam laytay huay dartay hain. yeh jo badkismatay hai kay jo mulk kay parhay likhay laug hain, woh kamaskam batayain tau sahi keh shariat kya hai. main aap ko batata hoon keh meri nazar main shariat kya hai. Shariat khilafat-e-rashidun hai. Uss ki kya bunyaad thi? Adal aur insaaf; aur falahi rryasaat, aur aik khuddar ryaasat jo kisi aur power kay saamnay na jhukay. yeh shariat nizam ki bunyaad hai. hum kyun dartay hain shariat ka naam laytay huay?

He basically says that we shouldn't fear sharia as it is the way of the Prophet (SAW). If we are Muslims we would like to live by the sharia but we fear the word 'sharia'. It is unfortunate that the educated people of the country don't explain sharia. ... He then explains what he thinks it is, (basically khilafut e rashidun) which includes not bowing to another power.

He sounds like he's in favour of sharia, but what makes that different to the Taliban being in control of Swat, unless we are talking about a different understanding of sharia by both.

[Admin Khan]

One complaint from my side:

A nice little greeting would have been nice in the beginning. You bit the bullet and jumped right to the topic.

[Ghundal]

Tor-Khan,

^so if he says he is in favor of Sharia, what is the issue then?

[Subhan]

One complaint from my side:

A nice little greeting would have been nice in the beginning. You bit the bullet and jumped right to the topic.

that was a classic line.

[Ghundal]

I like your accent.

Nice analysis Maseed. It takes guts to get on video to record, so props on that. I would have to wait to see how things foil out. I am however, a firm believer that without the backing of the ISI, it's nearly impossible to become a president in Pakistan. So things might not change. I do hope history proves me wrong.

Admin Khan,

Why do you think that Imran opposed Pak Army operations in Swat and Waziristan?

Also, why do you think he opposed Musharraf and refused the PM spot? Musharraf had Imran thrown in jail. The COAS is technically the head of the ISI, so it does not appear he was in their good books now

With his constant opposition to Pakistans support for the US war(7 years old), it does not look like he is pro establishment to me

[tor_khan]

Tor-Khan,

^so if he says he is in favor of Sharia, what is the issue then?

Read both my earlier questions in the thread. I was trying to reconcile Imran's version of sharia with one that had been tried before in Swat. Last time it was not uniformly accepted.

[R3SISTANC3]

Soldat I disagree with your religious and political views but I give you respect for putting yourself out there like this. I suggest that you don't make your videos religious but keep them strictly political, no racial bigotry or anything else if you wish to be taken seriously.

[Admin Khan]

Admin Khan,

Why do you think that Imran opposed Pak Army operations in Swat and Waziristan?

Also, why do you think he opposed Musharraf and refused the PM spot? Musharraf had Imran thrown in jail. The COAS is technically the head of the ISI, so it does not appear he was in their good books now

With his constant opposition to Pakistans support for the US war(7 years old), it does not look like he is pro establishment to me

Assalam-Alaikum Ghundal,

What I said is my opinion, and knowing how ISI stems in the life of ordinary Pakistanis(from killing Journalists who write against them,etc)I have a reason to believe if Imran Khan becomes president, he will quickly realize he doesn't run the show.

Saying and implementing are two different things. Only time can tell what will happen. He might be a good man, or he might be a complete fraud. Like I said, only time can tell. Let's leave it at that.

[Ghundal]

Soldat,

Care to explain what you mean by "horrific laws of Sharia?"

Perhaps you ought to list your objections to Sharia which is the law of Islam.

At least you have been honest in your opposition to Sharia

This is a major point you have made here

[Soldat_Amir]

Thanks for your kind comments. I will be making another video soon.

Anyway Tor Khan and Admin Khan Thanks for your reviews.

Admin Khan

I will do a introduction next time, I have a Pushto version too that I made with a introduction too.

Tor Khan

I can only sum up my reply to your concerns with that if I was a Neo-Con Capitalist and I spoke of spreading Communism wouldnt I look like a complete fool?

When our people in Swat were being tortured, their respected Sufi clerics being hung in the markets and musicians being sent death threats and the list goes on this Imran Khan stated on Pakistani TV that this is just all Propaganda done by the Bhutto government.

Now we all know the ground realities of how barbaric and evil the Swat Taliban were but why the hell should a man from a villa in Punjab discredit all the hard work our reporters, social workers and women who stood up to the Taliban go to waste because Imran Khan says so.

Now, people assume I just bring these topics up for no reason, they never see the experience I have, I had a friend from Mohmand agency, he was studying in the UK, his friend was from Swat too, studying in the UK, he got his degree and returned back to Swat, when he returned, a few days later, the local Taliban heard of his return, they sent his cousin to tie him up and take him away, now, after a few days, they fed him, prayed with him, then suddenly one day, they untied him, and he saw a knife being sharpened, his own cousin beheaded him.

Now such incidents are hardly ever spoken of or reported on media. It breaks my heart that our once great brave people are slaves on their own land.

If anyone actually felt what its like being a IDP(Internally displaced person) getting spat at, pushed aside, whipped with a sugar cane stick and told your not getting rations because they want Rishwat, then you will understand and taste ground realities.


@Ziarmal

The reason why poor Afghan villagers support truck loads of armed talibs is because they are scared, on one side the Americans come to their villages in big hummers with 50 calibre mounted gunners and they welcomed them then on the other side the Taliban come over in 4 by 4's with PKM's,AK47's and RPG's and take food and money from them.

Both sides use fear to get support.

[Shehbaz Khan]

Ghundal i dont know which version of talibans you are talking about but here in pakistan either they are blowing up girl's schools or they are sending threat letters to their principels.

I thought it was the ISI doing it :D

[Michin Khel]

I thought it was the ISI doing it :D

ISI and IB dont leave evidences and links which can lead to them.If you want to trace ISI from talibans you would find link broken, thats how they work. I do not have any documental evidences for my claims but if i am able to get hand on it, my fate would be no different than saleem shehzad.