On July 27, the election results indicated that Imran Khan was Pakistan’s choice, albeit without winning an overall majority amid accusations of rigging from his opposition. Khan stood on a firm manifesto of anti-corruption and pledged to hold all Pakistanis accountable to the law, regardless of their status.
He also placed an emphasis on education with a view to lifting people out of poverty and ambitiously vowed to create ten million new jobs in five years. While Khan’s campaign was unquestionably populist it also marked a political shift, where he pursued acceptance from conservative voters and the establishment.
So what does this mean for Pakistan and how does it reflect on the nation’s enigmatic head of state?
A public life
Khan has lived the majority of his 65 years in the public spotlight. He has been a cricketing superstar who famously delivered the nation’s first and only World Cup in 1992. He was married to British socialite Jemima Goldsmith. The Oxford-educated Khan later became a philanthropist, building schools and hospitals in Pakistan. In 1996, he entered politics, forming the centrist Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), meaning Pakistan Movement for Justice.
Recently, Khan made headlines for his marriage to spiritual leader Bushra Bibi, where she wore a full face veil. Pakistan Today quoted Khan, who confirmed he hadn’t seen Bibi’s face before the wedding, saying, “I see beyond the veil.”
Like many people, Khan has evolved and changed over the years. Nevertheless, his apparent willingness to shift spiritually and politically carries an enigmatic quality. Salman Saeed, the Dubai-based entrepreneur behind Khanmeter.com — a website created to track Khan’s success in delivering his promises in the first 100 days of his leadership — is optimistic that Pakistan’s new leader will maintain the strengths and values from his days as a sportsman.
“I think the Khan we had in the World Cup in 1992 is still in there. Using his exceptional leadership skills is the only way he can bring change to governance in Pakistan. I guess he had to turn conservative during the election campaign, as in the past 22 years his liberal personality didn’t allow him to win in our conservative society.”
A determined leader
The President of the Pakistan Business Council Dubai, Ahmed Shaikhani, is also confi dent about the Prime Minister designate. “We know Khan has been a leader who is determined, committed and dedicated to his cause, whatever it may be. My sincere belief is that he will succeed in his term of government and bring the change that is needed by our country.”
Khan’s immediate challenge is tackling the national debt. Whether he has the power and backing to implement his wider ambitions of social and economic reforms remains to be seen. Yet, regardless of his enigmatic persona, there’s a sense of hope among many Pakistanis that Imran Khan may actually change their country for the better.
