Why the West craves materialism & why the East sticks to religion - By Imran Khan

[Saifullah]

No he is actually more. A man who can't even win one seat despite all his populist banter shows he has a lack of political tact. And please don't pretend that he is some honest God send, because his positions and rhetoric is far from appealing or sane. I checked his party's manifesto or constitutions...I have to say it a mish mash of everything.

As Khyaal pointed out, even in this article he picks and chooses bits of history but overlooks the rest. The biggest extreme in Pakistan is not the westernized elite (they are in fact the same class that supposedly founded Pakistan and its British common law constitution), but rather Army class and the intelligence. The latter has basically co opted extreme groups, raped whatever bit of constitution they have and have nicely pushed the baloch into secessionist tendencies.

About Western hypocrisy well there is a lot of merit to that especially in the older colonial nations, who talked about liberalism and democracy and free market in their own countries, but imposed colonialism in others. They have generally tended to overlook their own double standards...I mean hey they raped Africa didn't they?

He is not popular in Pakistan, because parties like PPP and PML are popular even though they have raped Pakistan you can say....so how is popularity a way in which to gauge whether a person is good or not??? In Pakistani politics the evil person becomes successful and popular really quickly, whereas the honest person does not get anywhere. Like i said he is not perfect and maybe not great...but i prefer him any day than some guy like zardari or others.

He talks of building institutions which are lacking...

[BLS_1919v2.0]

He is not popular in Pakistan, because parties like PPP and PML are popular even though they have raped Pakistan you can say....so how is popularity a way in which to gauge whether a person is good or not??? In Pakistani politics the evil person becomes successful and popular really quickly, whereas the honest person does not get anywhere. Like i said he is not perfect and maybe not great...but i prefer him any day than some guy like zardari or others.

He talks of building institutions which are lacking...

Preferring someone to zardari is like me preferring the bum on the street to a wall street banker. It doesn't help me it just shows me there are better things. That won't answer the question. And again politics is gauged by these things, especially when you are the head of a part contesting elections. He doesn't have the excuse nationalists do, since he is a die-hard pakistani, and has sidelined his own Pashtun people to those kipling type descriptions. I have a hard time respecting that. His policies towards Afghanistan and Pashtunkhwa are ambiguous at best and reckless at worse.

When we judge Imran khan, we look at his previous political achievements, his current policies, his party manifesto as well as (and to be fair), the constraints his party faces. And to be fair, he is a clown in politics. I thank God he joined Pakistaniyath and left Pashtunkhwa/Afghanistan alone. That has been his only favour (and some of his philanthropy).