Established by the Establishment?

IK seems to be supported by the establishment. How will he bring about any change?

People leave behind a trail of evidence to show their past behavior, and their consistency predicts their likely future course of action.

Look at BB. She was always defiant. Amicable and compromising with establishment in order to get into the PM office. Not so friendly with them when in the office. She was never a favorite of the establishment. Her killing may very well be an act of Musharaf in cahoots with US in order to bring in an acquiescent PPP government, headed by Zardari.

Now look at Nawaz Sharif. He was established (as a political figure) by the establishment. Hence, not defiant till Musharaf threw him out of office. That too happened because he made a lame attempt at becoming mightier than the establishment. Since he is deemed to be very weak and lacking mental toughness, he is not considered a threat by the establishment despite his rhetoric against the role of military in politics.

Imran Khan, on the other hand, has always shown defiance. He led a cricket team in what some call a dictatorial way. But he led them to glory. It was a team plagued with politics and leg-pulling. He made them see dreams they had never seen. And they themselves made those dreams come true. His leadership gave the team the strength it never had and the passion to win that they always lacked. This passion got them the world cup and many other victories that are usually less talked about. He then built the cancer hospital against all odds. And went on to establish the university town in Mianwali...again against all odds. And now plans to build two more cancer hospitals. For fifteen years he faced bitter defeats in politics but stayed on his path of reforming the country...against all odds. That is who he is. He never gives up. Never gives in. He may not have the best team but he aims to steer them to glory.

Is he a man from the establishment?

My hunch is that even if he is, it is not in the same fashion as was Nawaz Sharif. Imran Khan would never accept a penny from establishment...only to make sure that he is never put in a compromising position by the establishment. He may appreciate the help from establishment but on the condition that he would be independent in his decision-making once he came into power. That is what he told Musharaf when he (then Chief Executive) offered him to become the Prime Minister. That never suited Musharaf so it never materialized.

So does that work for us?

I think it does. A team may be weak and may be lacking in many ways. But one strong leader sitting at the top can change its destiny.

Those of us who work in the corporate sector know very well the impact one individual Managing Director or CEO has on the way of thinking, attitude and performance of the entire organization. We have tested PPP and PMLN twice each in the past. They failed. Is there any reason why we should trust them again?

And should we vote for Imran Khan only because there is no one better?

I would say, NO.

PPP is bitterly exposed and PMLN got two chances to change the destiny of this country. They only strengthened themselves (politically and financially) and did next to nothing for the people.

We should side with Imran Khan because of his being a great leader in the whatever he has done in the past. Because he is the pride of Pakistan and we want to give him a chance to change the course of this nation. Because he is not just better than the rest, he is also a man with vision and passion. A man on a mission. And unlike others this mission is not to grab power but to bring glory to this nation. I will vote for him because I want to give him a chance.