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From The Times
November 14, 2007

Imran Khan comes out of hiding to lead students in street protests

Imran Khan poses for a portrait in a safe house
Jeremy Page

Imran Khan, the Pakistani cricketer turned politician, plans to come out of hiding today to launch a student protest movement in an attempt to end emergency rule and bring down President Pervez Musharraf.

Speaking in a friend’s house in the eastern city of Lahore, Mr Khan told The Times that he would lead a protest at the University of the Punjab.

It will be his first public appearance since he escaped arrest at his home in Lahore in the first hours after General Musharraf introduced emergency rule on November 3.

“Without a street movement, this guy is not going to go,” said Mr Khan, 55. “That’s the only thing dictators in the past have been affected by and that’s what the Army looks to. When the Army realises someone has become a liability, they get rid of him.”

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Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) party, founded in 1997, has only one seat (his own) in the national parliament, and critics dismiss him as a political lightweight. Others have exploited his reputation as a playboy and his marriage to Jemima Khan, the British daughter of the late Sir James Goldsmith, which ended in divorce in 2004.

However, he is still regarded as a national hero for leading Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup and his political standing has risen since he took a stand against General Musharraf and President Bush.

Yesterday he accused Mr Bush of stoking anti-Americanism among Pakistanis by continuing to support General Musharraf. “For this one man, Bush is willing to sacrifice 160 million sheep - we are like sheep,” he said.

“This is worse than the Shah of Iran. Have they learnt no lessons? Within the country people who don’t understand the West think this is a conspiracy against Islam.”

He said that Pakistan should withdraw its troops from northwestern areas and negotiate with tribesmen sheltering the Taleban and al-Qaeda militants, while Nato should set a timetable for leaving Afghanistan.

He urged Benazir Bhutto to join him in starting street protests and boycotting the parliamentary elections that General Musharraf has promised by January 9. But he said that she had lost credibility by negotiating a power-sharing deal with General Musharraf.

Imran Khan is just a big JOKE, nothing more ,nothing less, he does not have a backing from anyone, he is a one man party and a few 'hangers on'.
He is just wasting his time and everyone else's.

Faqi, London, UK

All the best 2 Imran Khan. We need sincere people like him - all we have at present is politicans who are corrupt and involved in different scandals and the qabza group (taking others peoples property illegally)

KASHEF KAMAL, PRESTON, U.K

Ther are only a few people in Pakistan who have delevered something to the country and undoubtedly Imran is one of them.However Pakistan is controlled and run by a mostly hypocrite society . People like or unlike somebody because of their vested interests and not by somebodys achievements.Look at what happened in Lahore yesterday. This is a city who should be proud of Imran Khan for his service to which he has given to this city. Unfortunately this was done to him by the student wing of a party which is one of the main ally of Imran Khan. The mullahs of Pakistan are due to answer a lot of questions. They have safeguarded the interests of all military governments in Pakistan but the number of times they have got Musharraf out of trouble is known to everybody. Starting from 17th amendment , helping him in his election by not dissolving NWFP assembly,and finally now wit the treatment they have given to Imran Khan yesterday in University they have shown their hypocrite face to Pakistanis

Ali Bokhari, galway, Ireland

I reckon Pakistani public should give Imran Khan a go, both Benazir and Sharif have being tried and tested -Twice as Pakistan PM . Both of them are just plain useless, one prefers sindhis other punjabis when they should be considering the needs of whole of Pakistan. It be jus an awful mistake to give them the chance again. Imran Khan is the best available option.

zulf, London,

Just heard disturbing news he is arrested by goons. Our media is in prison plaz confirm this news

Nighat, Karachi, pakistan

Imran khan is the only reasonable choice for the people of Pakistan, he is honest and not currpt like other politicians (Benizir Bhotto, Ch. Brothers of punjab or Nawaz shrif) what ever he is saying is right and people of pakistan shoud take him serious and give him fair chance

humaira, Toronto, Canada

Congress rule: Hindu votes and tax money, but Muslim rule and Hindus are animals for slaughter.

This Imran Khan is the wrong guy to lead mass movements including students' protests! He was regarded as a playboy. Politicians like him have a huge ego, talk big, act bigger than they are, but very poor in practicing what they say!

"When the Army realises someone has become a liability, they get rid of him.”

Yes, this is a correct. At least he understands that one military ruler replaces another one unlike many Pakistani politicians floating at different levels!
Regards,

Krishna R. Kumar, Udupi, India

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