Early last week a strange number flashed up on Jemima Khan’s mobile phone.
Puzzled, she picked up the call to hear a familiar voice on the other end
saying urgently: “Jem, it’s me.”
It was her exhusband Imran Khan, the Pakistani cricket captain turned
politician, who has been on the run since security forces tried to put him
under house arrest last weekend. The brief call – terminated abruptly so as
not to be traceable – was to reassure her and their two sons that he was
safe. “It was like hearing a ghost,” she says, laughing with relief. “He’s
fine. Obviously he’s outraged but he’s safe, thank God.”
Imran was at his father’s home in Lahore – where he and Jemima lived for the
first five years of their marriage – when President Pervez Musharraf
declared a state of emergency, ostensibly because “terrorists” were
threatening his presidency.
Musharraf’s critics believe it was an attempt to preempt a Supreme Court
judgment that would have declared his recent reelection as president
invalid. For months the president has been at daggers drawn with the
judiciary, which prides itself on being a neutral and secular upholder of
Pakistan’s constitution.
In the brutal fall-out from the sudden declaration of emergency rule, which
also follows the devastating bomb attack on Benazir Bhutto’s welcome-home
parade last month – which killed more than 130 people – lawyers, human
rights activists and government critics have been rounded up and imprisoned,
and political opponents such as Imran and, “for her own security”, Bhutto,
have been put under house arrest.
Imran believes that if he had not made a run for it he would have ended up in
Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail. In a statement issued through his ex-wife he said
his house had been “ransacked” by the police and his family “roughed up”.
His two sisters and their families live in the house with his father and
though he told Jemima on the phone that everyone was fine she has not been
able to speak to them to establish exactly what happened.
“The police put Imran under house arrest, then went away to get an arrest
warrant,” says Jemima. “He was tipped off that they were going to put him in
jail and so he managed to escape over the back wall. He’s lucky that he has
family bordering the property, so he was able to go straight into another
friendly house.”
Much as his flight might sound like a scene from a sitcom, the tenor of the
police visit was decidedly menacing. “He said they were very brutal and much
more belligerent than he’d ever seen before,” says Jemima.
“Normally the police are very respectful towards Imran, because quite a lot of
them are fans from his cricket days. But in this instance they were very
aggressive with both him and with everyone in the house. And I think that
was probably quite a shock to him.”
Jemima spent last week in a flurry of activity, drumming up support for a
protest in Downing Street yesterday that brought together influential
expatriate Pakistanis such as Mohammad Sarwar, the Glasgow MP, and Hina
Jilani, the lawyer and human rights activist, under the banner of the
Campaign Against Martial Law. She and numerous well-placed Pakistani exiles
are piecing together information – mainly e-mails – from friends and family
back there. She loathes Bhutto, but was hoping her supporters would also
turn up. “I hope everyone comes, that anyone who is critical of what
Musharraf is doing comes and protests,” she says.
“What’s happening in Pakistan is unthinkable. My sons’ teacher from their old
school has been arrested. Lawyers and teachers have been arrested. Despite
getting billions in aid, Musharraf has failed to find Osama [Bin Laden],
failed to curb the resurgence of the Taliban and failed to control
extremists. There are terrorists on the loose now and the jails are over
spilling with lawyers, human rights activists, all of civil society. There
are so many they can’t even fit them into the jails – they’re sitting in
handcuffs in the police stations.
“We probably know more here about what’s happening than they do in Pakistan
because the media’s been completely gagged. They’ve gone into radio stations
and television stations and beaten up the presenters. They’ve carted the
best newspaper editors and journalists off to jail – anyone who has opposed
the regime. And such brutality! You can’t imagine the stories of beatings.
They’re beating women, beating old people and we are only getting to hear of
a small part of what is going on.
“You can’t really call people on mobiles and even if you do get through,
they’re terrified to talk. Anyone who is in any way related to Imran – and
that’s a large number of people I know and am friends with – are worried
about talking on the phone because the authorities are desperate to know
where he is.”
Imran and Jemima married in 1995 after a whirlwind romance. She was just 21,
he twice her age. The daughter of Sir James and Lady Annabel Goldsmith,
Jemima was an impossibly glamorous young socialite – sister of Zac
Goldsmith, now David Cameron’s adviser on climate change – whose family
split their time between Ormeley Lodge, the family home in southwest London,
a Paris mansion, a villa in Marbella and an estate on the coast of Mexico.
Friends wondered how she would cope with her new life in Lahore with the
serious-minded former cricketer who had just founded the Movement for
Justice and was dipping his toes into the hazardous waters of Pakistan
politics. Jemima was part-Jewish by birth and raised a Roman Catholic but
converted to Islam and “learnt Urdu and really impressed everyone”,
according to Imran.
She gained a masters degree in international politics, but her life in
Pakistan was dogged by controversy. At one point she was accused of
exporting antiques from the country, a charge later dropped and widely
believed to have been politically motivated in order to smear her husband.
She admitted later she had felt his marriage was, politically, his “Achilles
heel”. She tried to help Imran on the campaign trail but confessed that she
felt lonely during his long absences from home.
In 2004 the marriage was dissolved and she moved back to London with their two
sons, Suleiman, now 10, and Kasim, eight. It is interesting that in his time
of need it is Jemima that Imran should turn to for help.
Talking to her in her beautiful, high-ceilinged drawing room in London,
surrounded by books and pieces of Islamic art, it’s easy to see why. In
high-waisted jeans and white shirt, with her hair scraped up into a ponytail
she is an elegant and passionate advocate for democracy in Pakistan.
“It’s no surprise I feel passionate about it. I lived in Pakistan for 10
years, my sons have a very strong sense of their Pakistani identity, my
exhusband is Pakistani,” she says. “But even friends who have no connection
to the country are outraged at what’s happening there.”
She has explained to Suleiman and Kasim everything that is going on. They were
in Pakistan only a couple of weeks ago for half-term and she’s thanking her
lucky stars that they are back safely. “Sunday is usually the day they
travel, so if half-term had been a week later . . .” They were accompanying
her to the demonstration yesterday – and bringing friends – and she was
spending Friday evening making placards with them to take along. She was
amused to receive a message from Imran via a friend saying: “I’m very
excited about Saturday’s demo. Make sure my tigers are holding placards.”
Jemima is carrying out his instructions. “I really want the boys to understand
how lucky they are. I take it for granted that we live in a democracy and
we’re allowed to protest and I want them to understand that that’s actually
a privilege and there are a lot of people in the world who don’t have that
privilege,” she says. “I want them to understand what their father is trying
to do in Pakistan, why he’s not available to them as much as he’d like to
be, the seriousness of what he’s involved with.”
Much of the background to politics in Pakistan the boys must have picked up by
osmosis. “I should think they’ve sat through hundreds of political
meetings out there,” she laughs. “The house is pretty much one big political
gathering at all times.
“But I sometimes wonder how aware they are of how volatile it is over there.
Obviously I’m aware because since I’ve been there they’ve been through
several changes of government. Nobody served out their time while I was
there, there was always a forced end to whoever was in charge so
everything’s always been very dramatic. They were too small to be aware of
that but they know about everything that’s happening now.”
But young as they are, she wants them to take their trip to Downing Street
seriously – by writing their own slogans for their placards, for instance.
“I want them to think; I want them to be involved. I don’t want to just
shove something into their hands and say ‘now just wave this about’ without
them understanding. My little one’s a bit young, but the older one’s quite
capable of thinking this through so he can decide what he wants to call for.”
Hundreds of Imran’s party workers have been arrested in the past week and,
cool as she seems, she must be concerned for his safety. “I can’t imagine
he’ll stay in hiding for long. I wouldn’t be surprised if he were arrested
next week. He believes that God will protect him,” she says, with a smile.
“I’ve always teased him that there’s supposedly a saying of Prophet
Muhammad’s, which was ‘Believe in God, but tether your camel’. I used to try
to urge him to be a little more cautious, using that as my back-up.”
But he never seemed to take any notice. “He’s not easily frightened,” she says.
Just as well: in Pakistan, politics is a brutal business. If the police were
so much more aggressive than before, what does it mean?
“I suppose it signals that they really mean business,” she says. “If Imran
hadn’t escaped I’m pretty sure he’d be in jail now and those that are in
jail are not being allowed visitors. Nobody knows where they’re being put
into jail either – they’re being moved from city to city so the family does
not know where they are, to create as much confusion as possible. There have
definitely been instances of torture, so it’s a very serious situation.”
It is complicated by the fact that Musharraf has been seen by the West as an
ally, a bulwark against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda sym-pathisers in
neighbouring Afghanistan. US aid to Pakistan since 9/11 has totalled about
£5 billion. But last week President Bush called on Musharraf to give up his
army post and restore democracy and David Miliband, the foreign secretary,
called for free elections saying this was a “defining moment” for Pakistan
and its leadership.
So what does Jemima think Britain and the US should do?
“Pressure, just keep up the pressure,” she says. “America and Britain have
enormous influence in the region and if they apply serious pressure on
Musharraf, he will listen.”
Jemima hopes yesterday’s demonstration will “make noise, just send the message
that what’s going on in Pakistan is not acceptable. Musharraf says he will
hold elections sometime before February 15 but it’s very vague. He hasn’t
said whether the judges will be restored, whether the courts will be
restored, whether the constitution will be restored. He hasn’t talked about
political prisoners and whether they will be released, he hasn’t talked
about the media – so all those things need to be in place before they can
have free and fair elections.
“Right now, all the people the West needs to be talking to are in jail or in
hiding. I wouldn’t be getting involved if it weren’t for the fact that so
many Pakistanis I know aren’t able to demonstrate themselves. Nobody’s able
to protest legitimately because they just get flung into jail or beaten with
batons.”
Her vision for Pakistan is simple: “human rights and democracy, what every
country deserves”. And she is scathing of the popular notion that democracy
is “unIslamic”. “I don’t see any contradictions between Islamic values and
democracy. None at all.”
Jamima is incredible we in Pakistan respect her struggle for democracy in Pakistan i love her efforts
God bless her
Shehzad, Khushab, Pakistan
Jamima efforts will be remembered in history of Pakistan for restoration of real democracy.
Faraz Mushtaq, Kuwait,
jemima khan deserves appreciation for her efforts.... she's courageous enough to stand up for people in need... hats off to her.... and also......i totally agree with her statement that islamic values have no contradiction with democracy .....
Nishad Shaheid, Colombo, Sri lanka
I admire you Jemima for being so civilised in supporting Imran Khan. May god be with you.
Rabz, SY,
Jemima, well done! You only lived there for 10 years and I for 15 but you seem to be heading the race to speak out for those who need it the most right now.
Inshallah if we all continue to raise our voices against this oppression then soon victory will be ours to celebrate with rest of the Pakistan.
Fahad, London,
Your spirited campaign is not only commendable but also should bring cause some shame to those pakistanis who are still siiting quiet and not protesting.
Not only your tigers, but my small tigers aged 7 and 4 also held placards during the domonstration.
Keep it up
London.
Naveed Fikr, London,
Hey Jemima,
Its people like you that Pakistan needs! Wouldnt it make more of an impact if you could come back to Pakistan and join Imran in his fight? The efforts made by you to create awareness of democracy and the importance of restoring it, are simply remarkable.....
As they say, 'The mills of God grind slowly but surely'.....Hope you'll keep up the momentum!
All the best,cheers! :)
Mahjabeen, Karachi, Pakistan
Jemima,
We all are behind Imran and really appreciate everything you have been doing for restoration of true democracy in Pakistan.
I sincerely hope you will once again move back to Pakistan and this time for good.
SADIQ SOLOMON, Karachi, Pakistan
Jamiama,
Thank you so much! You are really helping the people of Pakistan right now.
Imran's Tiger, Tigerville, Pakistan
Hi Jemima !
I really appreciate every word spoken by you which is nothing but truth. Imran khan is emerging leader of Pakistan but it will take some time to change the cultural mind set of our people.
i realy dont care about ur personal life but appreciate ur current efforts .
Raza, Stockholm, Sweden
Thanks Jemima for your support to Imran and Pakistan. We need all the support we can get to draw attention of the world to the crisis in Pakistan. We need the Western governments to put pressure on Mushrraf to lift emergency and hold free and fair elections. God Bless us all.
Atif, Washington DC, USA
thank you jemima,just want u to know that it feels very nice to have good words spoken about us . These days the world seems to have fallen into a trend of accusing or abusing us pakistanis .Its lovely people like u who can somehow bridge the gaps .
the greatest damage of such controversial subjects is felt by teh ordinary national of my country who becomes a silent and helpless spectator in such regards.
anyways heres wishing you happiness always and the appreciation is heart felt.
.
rabbab malik, Dubai, Pakistan
I think Ruport John believes Jemima is a confused damsel because that is how she behaves. Earlier this year, she was posing on a red carpet with Hugh Grant, wearing a tight cleavage baring dress and also making waves for not wearing any undergarments. One relationship break up later, and look at what she's doing now, a complete 360 degree turn once more! Isn't that exactly what she did, only the reverse, when she dumped Imran for Hugh too? This is a lady that most apparently doesn't know who she is or what she wants.
James, Esher, -
Unfortunately for Jemima and her former husband, they are not influential in Pakistan whatsoever in a political sense. Jemima has been forgotten about, just as she forgot about Pakistan these past several years when she was too busy enjoying herself. As cynically as it sounds, I can now only see her doing this for her own benefit i.e. good publicity and an ego boost for her, and publicity for Imran Khan's political ambitions.
Zahir, London, UK
Jemima Khan is a good example of a person who's motto is "do as I say, not as I do". She preaches Islam and morals to the rest of us, but look at her own jet-setting lifestyle. She began dressing immodestly as soon as she stepped back on British soil, and does not appear to live an Islamic lifestyle at all, now that she is more interested in high fashion, nightclubs and dating movie stars.
How can she expect people to take her seriously after she left Imran and Pakistan for all of that? If she did not have any of the Goldsmith millions to turn people's heads, she would not be given a soapbox on which to preach to everyone else.
Seema, Burnley, UK
Pakistanis should be proud to have a friend like Jemima. How many of us know ex-wives who will go to the end of the earth to sling mud at their ex spouse's name. Jemima has stepped up for her principles and has the decency to help her children and her ex husband by taking the stand she has. Remember she does not have to do any of this but CHOOSES to help her boy's father and a country she called home once. Pakistani's who live in the west and end up going back to Pakistan have such a tough time defending the west when they are back in Pakistan eventhough they had called the WEST their home for long periods of time. She is doing this inspite of the pressure she must be getting from her friends and family.
Abbas, Los Angeles, USA
Jemima is great and intellectual lady.I really feel proud to say that she has given every support as she can.One day we might see her ex-husband as a prime minister of pakistan,because of the efforts they both have dedicated.
fahad ather, essex,
Hi there. I love you all wherever you are in the world and whatever idealogy you are following. We the Pakistani are in dire need of your moral support . We have been robbed of our basic rights. Our thousands of civil society members including lawers,human right activists, students,women and even childern have been thrown behind the bars by the tyrant regime. Please raise voice for us as vocifrously as you can. Otherwise this suffocation will create new trends of voilence which will potentialy can effect the peace of the whole Asia pecific region which will obviously be dangerous for the rest of the world as well. This is a MAY DAY or SOS message. Help save civil liberties.Help us enjoy our civil rights. Ask your governments and human right orgnizations to exert their influence on this brutal regime.
khawaja khurram, islamabad, Pakistan
God bless Jemima -- she is so passionate and so articulate about democracy in Pakistan -- what Musharraf has done is abominable -- it only shows how deperate he has become to hang on to power even at the expence of destroying the country. I admire Imran for leaving behind a comfortable life to enter lion's den of Pakistan 's brutal poltics.
NASAH, Tampa, USA/FL
Imran has been my guest twice and I have praised his welfare contribution in five of my columns published in the Daily Jung. He took me to SKM hospital when it was in making stage and was his guest at the Endowment function. He is a courageous fighter and I subscribe to what he stands for,democracy,rule of law and a prosperous Pakistan.
Hameed Ahmad Sethi, Gulberg,Lahore, Pakistan
I appreciate Jemima Khan to support her ex-husband in the time of need. Her contribution in the protests to demand democracy and uplift of Judiciary in Pakistan signify her care for humanity. Thank you Jemima Khan. Please always educate your sons about Pakistan and Islam.
Malik Shahzad Tahir, Riyadh, KSA
I think what Jamina Khan is doing is very appreciatable and imran khan and the whole democratic forces of the society salute her for her courage and determination. As far as Imran Khan is concerned, he is a man of principles and we all appreciate him and we hope he gets a chance to get at least few seats in the National Assembly. All the youth of Pakistan supports him and am sure he is the future leader of our country.
Gone are the days when the selected few ruled our country through their dynastic systems. People of Pakistan are now much more aware then they were previously. Do visit my blog page for finding more about the current situation in Pakistan.
http://thelandofpure.blogspot.com/
I will greatly appreciate if you drop your comments there as well. Keep visiting as we need your support in these times of Emergency.
M Junaid , Lahore, Pakistan
I attended the protest and i saw Jemima and the boys and i thought it was a great thing she was doing taking her boys along.
She is qulaified to speak on politics as she has lived there, helped imran contest an election plus she also holds a master in politics.
Nina saying she is doing this because she isnt in the papers is totally unfair.
If you havent read she is still in the papers post grant.
Hope both jemima and imran can make a difference in there respective ways.
Salma, London,
Thank you Jemima. We need your support to restore democracy in Pakistan. Musharraf has to go, enough is enough. Im Pakistani and settled in the UK and have relatives in Pakistan and it is very worrying. Keep up the good work and we all must stick together and make sure our voices are heard to end Martial law.
Mehmoona Fatima Irshad, Manchester, UK
To Ruport John, above. Why is Jemima confused damsel?
Probably you are not even able to dream of marrying such a pretty and glamorous woman and will never be.
Tahir Shan, London, UK
It is because of Jemima that Imran Khan failed in politics. People of Pakistan did not forgive him for marrying a non-Pakistani women as his first bride. Now he is struggeling and on the run. Jemima should be ashamed of herself. I think she ought to take the Khan off her name now. She has let down her former husband and ran away from him to come live in London.
Iftikhar, Manchester, UK
Salute to Jemima! All Pakistanis are proud of you.
Irfan, Stockholm, Sweden
Imran deserves all the support because it is fight human rights. well done Jamima.
Abdul, London,
Imran Khan is, to put it charitably, bent out of shape completely and Ms Khan is cashing in on the general and naive feeling that Pakistan is better off becoming another Islamist country along the lines of Taliban Afghanistan and/or the civil-war-riven Algeria where fundamentalists turned a formerly peaceable democracy into a war zone with atrocities committed by both sides. Khan is known to be linked with fundamentalists and Musharraf is making the country and world safer in the long run by imposing martial law, just as Wojciech Jaruzelski's imposition of martial law in 1981 ensured that Poland was safe from a Russian invasion and possible global nuclear war although committing human rights violations against Solidarity in the short-term. Jemima should go back and reflect whether she and Imran want a fundamentalist Pakistan sponsoring terrorism or whether the world needs Pakistan safe from Islamists who would use the democratic institutions for their own ends.
Michael Howard , Folkestone, UK
Mrs Khan: "I don't see any contradiction between Islamic values and democracy. None at all."
European Centre for Fatwa and Research (based in Dublin):
"The Sharia clearly embodies the superior rules in life. THE SHARIA SHOULD THEREFORE BE RESPECTED AS SUPERIOR TO CIVIL LAW AND THE DEMOCRACY. The Shariah cannot be amended to conform to changing human values and standards, rather it is the absolute norm to which all human values and conduct need to conform; it is the frame to which they must be referred; it is the scale on which they must be weighed."
Prof Iqbal Al-Gharbi of the Islamic Zaytouna University, Tunis:
"There are the three essential inequalities which define (the Sharia): inequality between man and woman, between Muslim and non-Muslim, between free man and slave."
All Moslem nations refused to sign the Human Rights legislation of the United Nations; instead they signed the Cairo Agreement stating that Sharia Law is superior to Human Rights legislation.
Caro, london,
i really appreciate the efforts jemima has made to garner pblic opinion in the UK and the world against the happenings in Pakistan.Imran is a well meaning politician but there is little to show that his political standing in Pakistan is anything more than a minor irritant to President Musharraf .But precisely for this reason his strident criticism of the military dictator is a brave act and must be commended.i wish the west quickly realises how their governments have been taken for a ride in the name of fight against terrorism by this man. Unfortunately he has lost the support of the Islamists too and if he fails now the latter will come to power which would make the world a more dangerous place to live in
anil, Mumbai,
Nina, London - I agree. I applaud her efforts, but I believe she is less selfless than she would like to admit. She doesn't have Hugh Grant to keep her in the newspapers anymore, so she decides the way to remedy that is to writte her own commentaries on Pakistan and now protesting. All very well and good, but like you said, why did she not do this in the three years she partied and holidayed with Mr.Grant?
Emma, Wrexham, UK
As an American, all I can say is President Bush II is the perfect prototype of a dictator himself, he just can't get away with it here. The majority of Americans are looking forward to the 2008 elections and grateful that the Bush Regime is going to be over. He only wanted to finish what his father started with Saddam Hussein, and would likely control the entire Middle East if given the reins and freedoms to do so. I am thankful I have the power to vote this down and elect a new President. The one we have isn't there to liberate the oppressed, stabilize a government, or rebuild a country, when he wont concentrate on what needs to be done at home. It is purely selfish motivations that put him where he is today.
Heather L., Marietta, oh, USA
Jemima has shown what a great and extraordinary woman she is.She spoke for hundreds and thousands of innocent pakistanis who feel helpless at this time.Please keep up this and we are all with you.May God bless you!
amber , london, uk
Note that Jemima and Imran are fairly well-off and have enough to live a life of luxury and care not one iota for Pakistan. But they have chosen to lead a path of civil rights. For that they should be credited and congratulated. Anything else they do in their private lives is their business, as long as they don't hurt others and I don't believe they are capable of that. Go forth Khan. God is with you.
ahmed asgher, manama, bahrain
I wonder if Jemima has started to miss Imran. To say Imran needed Jemima in this difficult time is bit exageration as Jemima would not be able to do anything. The children are the reason of contact between Jemima and Imran.
However, let me explain, Pakistanis respect Jemima. She went to their country, learned their language and lived their for 10 years.
Tahir Shan, London, UK
Thank You Jemima and all those who are participating in this War of the people and for the people of Pakistan against the supporters of dictatorship.
Qazi Tanvir alam, Lahore,
JEM pls tell the west that pakistanis, whether bearded or unbearded , are not extremist and terrorist. what is happening is simply couter productive of the shortsighted western leaders.
rao qasim, multan, pakistan
She is one great woman. It's not easy to represent the needy,if one is not in need.
Akua Abban, Wembley, UK
History is full of brave, honest and dedicated Khans. Imran Khan is a real Khan. We are proud of him.
Jehanzeb Khan, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Great Jemima keep up the lobbying for democracy and human rights. people in Pakistan are simply too scared to come on streets and have never protested openly to Musharaf's dictatorships. We wish US was spending its money, time and resources on fighting real terrorism which is pervasive in Pakistan, and has destablized Pakistan. Why is it taking too long for Bush administratiopn to understand that Musharaf's regime has only given rise to extremism and more protection to militants, more establishment of madrassah's and support to arms and waepons used by the militants. Where have the US money been spent? Bush's administration relationship with Pakistan will only increase number of suicide bombers, terrorists, and more training and hiding camps in Tribal areas. It is everytime that military has withdrawn and entered into private agreements with local taliban, as they cannot withstand the pressure and cannot fight the local taliban in any way inspite of having a large armed force.
Amjad Khan, Washington, USA
She is emotionally confused....but cognitively mature. She is doing the right thing; wish her and Imran success in this 'joint venture'.
Aamer Sarfraz, Chislehurst, UK
Pakistan is a complete basket case.
Maybe Imran Khan can hide in the same cave as ol' osama !
Tom, London, Uk
Ruport John - Confused damsel? In what way? Could you please explain your thought process here? Or was it just unconsidered opinion?
NR, Bristol, UK
When Jemima khan was with Hugh Grant and busy partying in London she didn't seem to give a fig about Pakistan and its people or about Musharraf and the lack of democracy.
One wonders if this newly discovered enthusiasm for pakistan is a ploy to remain in the public eye post hugh Grant.
Also how is a socialite who's only connection to pakistan is her ex husband qualified to become a political commentator.
Nina, London,
In politics if you want to succeed you have to play politics and that is what Imran is doing.
If he can bring abouyt change for the better, then that is all good. But you have to remember that most of Pakistan is illiterate and most of the politicians are only in the game to make money through corruption.
Although Imran is on a podium against corruption, many of his opponents are not. That is why Democracy cannot work in Pakistan.
Education of the masses to Western standards is the key to a better Pakistan, then democracy will come naturally. The West must invest in schools, colleges and universities in Pakistan to achieve this, not Dictators and Politicians!
Abid, Shipley, UK
I want to assure Kasmin and Suleiman that their father has made the whole nation proud whether it's about his cricket or his political stance in the country
Imran, I'm with you in this battle!
iD, London,
She is one confused damsel!
Ruport John, Leeds, UK
Imran Khan is a Great Humanbeing and Jemima Khan is dignified lady with a loving heart. Kasim and sulieman must be so proud of their parents. Imran Khan is the only sincere, selfless and trustworthy leader in Pakistan who is in politics to fight for the poor and week. Also he has been fighting against the corrupt elite to bring about the core democratic values of free and independent judiciary, free media and education for poor. In Pakistan, it aint easy as it means you are the target and your life is at risk.. Imran Khan is A Great Man, No doubt!!! n my role model in life!!!
Amir, Bolton, Lancashire
i really much support imran khan point of view about the current situation in the country .the coutry needs a strong justice system who can be trusted in every situaion so peole can get justice .in my opinion police, burucrates in simple words most of them, whoever works in any goverment institutions are curupt ,people don't trust them they don't get what they expect . i don;t blame them eather because they aint got the facilities or good salaries to support there families. and live the life style they want .
its a very complicated situation in pakistan and i cannot bare this when a foreign country tells such a great country and nation what to do just becasue of there own interests .on the other side all pakistanies regardles of there background should join together and decide whats best for there country and islam.
don't get me wrong it is a country with strong minded people who can oversome all these dark ages but will take time and commited leadership.
liakat khan, leeds, uk