Amer Ishaq Soharwardi
THE world has a new international statesman, a leader from a seemingly uncanny geographical location. His name is Imran Khan and he has been selected as the prime minister by the people of Pakistan. An unorthodox, plain speaking man who commands authority from a nation of 140 million people, the only Muslim majority nuclear state which straddles the Himalayas in the north and dips its toes in the Arabian Sea in the south. Khan’s prowess was on display at the 74th United Nations General Assembly session as he left his supporters in awe and took his foes by surprise. Khan’s all-encompassing speech touched upon the scourge of radicalism, an issue which world leaders have tiptoed around but rarely addressed directly.
Pakistan’s leader had a universal message in this age of Xenophobia and Islamophobia from India to Norway as he said” All human communities … no religion preaches radicalism. The basis of all religions is compassion and justice, which differentiate us from the animal kingdom”. He added “There are 1.3 billion Muslims in this world. Millions of Muslims are living in the US and European countries as minorities. Islamophobia, since 9/11 has grown at an alarming pace. Human communities are supposed to live together with understanding among each other. But Islamophobia is creating a division.”
After many years of relative silence and hidden references – the United Nations was reminded of its dismal record on Kashmir. Khan brought attention to what is happening in Kashmir. Pakistan has told the world of the dangers of India’s right wing extremist government led by the man known as the butcher of Gujarat. Narendra Modi’s insistence of pushing Kashmiris against the wall will undoubtedly breed resentment, hate and extreme reactions. The removal or Kashmir’s autonomy and annexing of the disputed region is already proving disastrous and Khan warned of what’s coming next. He said, “There will be a reaction to this, Pakistan will be blamed, two nuclear-armed countries will come face to face like we came in February”.
Pakistan’s elected leader’s unapologetic expression of pointing out western hypocrisy has made Pakistanis, especially those living in the United States, swell with pride. In a time when the world is moving towards the far right, here is a leader of one of the world’s most capable militaries preaching peace and fighting for a just, better, greener and fairer world. Sohail Ishaq from Boise said he was thrilled to hear Khan speak like a true statesman and it was probably the first time in his memory that a Pakistani leader has taken centre-stage with such wit and charisma. Pakistan has rattled India, previously seen as the all-powerful lobby and economic power house. While Papers in the US and Europe detailed the atrocities being committed by the Indian government and TV stations were playing out the abuse of the usurping Indian army.
All India could come up with was a feeble response to the UN Secretary General after Khan’s speech “Pakistan’s `virulent reaction to the removal of an outdated and temporary provision … stems from the fact that those who thrive on conflict never welcome the ray of peace”. This response in itself was the evidence of how India has been defeated in the diplomatic game and the veil has come off from its Bollywood-powered drama of peace. India’s version of peace and prosperity is sending nearly one million soldiers to occupy Kashmiris and yet failing to quell the freedom movement. In Khan, Kashmiris have found an Ambassador who is boldly fighting their case and the case of all Pakistanis who believe in justice and the right to self-determination.
He is a voice for those who stand against tyranny, oppression and terrorism in all its forms. I’m afraid I have to take you to a pop culture reference, in the Hollywood award winner “The King’s Speech” a future King George VI comes out of his stammer and yells “I have a voice”. Metaphorically speaking, all Pakistan’s pervious rulers were reading from notes, stuttering and stammering and Khan roared at the UN General Assembly unequivocally – it almost feels like a stuttering Pakistan commanded with confidence, saying “I Have a Voice”.
—The writer is Bureau Chief of Pakistan Observer in the US.
