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Imran Khan, the former cricket hero known for fighting back when cornered, is not entirely happy with his new team. It is disorganized, even haphazard. The enemy is strong, able to crush any offensive with ease. Few fans show up when they're supposed to.
Khan is now an opposition leader in Pakistan, trying to make the most of a political crisis that could either topple President Pervez Musharraf or significantly reduce his power and force him to step down as army chief. But so far, the opposition is fractured. Politicians have not been able to get their act together, and the presidential election is due Oct. 6.
"Remember one thing -- the opposition can't take on the military," Khan said in an interview Friday. The failure of the political newcomer and the rest of the opposition to capitalize on Musharraf's problems shows what critics say is one of the glaring weaknesses of Pakistan's democracy.
For its entire 60-year history, the military has been the real power here, and the major political parties seem frozen in time, backing the same leaders who have repeatedly been accused of corruption or dictatorlike behavior. Khan is the only prominent new face to emerge in politics in recent years, and his success has been limited. His party won only one national parliamentary seat in the last election -- his.
'Disunity bordering on chaos'
Musharraf, a key U.S. ally in the war on terrorism, is at his weakest point since seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1999. He is struggling against Islamic militants, a newly emboldened Supreme Court and an increasingly hostile public.
Despite all those problems, Musharraf's government still has been able to divide the opposition, prevent any major protest in recent weeks and fend off most challenges. On Sunday, Dawn newspaper ran an editorial titled "Opposition in disarray" that said Musharraf's foes have been characterized "by disunity bordering on chaos."
Anti-Musharraf rallies have fizzled. Some opposition leaders have been rounded up easily -- most recently on Saturday, allegedly to maintain public order before the deadline for presidential nominations Thursday. Others appear to have been co-opted. Musharraf supposedly is negotiating a power-sharing deal with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who leads one of two major opposition political parties.
"The opposition is just in pieces," said Ayesha Tammy Haq, a lawyer and host of a political talk show. "And what's really, really sad is there are all these people who are hoping that the opposition will get together to do something. The people are fired up, but there's nobody to lead them."
Khan's experience as a juniorKhan's experience as a junior politician shows just how difficult it is to defy Musharraf's government. Since forming his political party, the Justice Movement, in 1996, Khan has applied many of his traits as a cricket player to politics. Yet he also has little chance of becoming a major player in the country's current political landscape, analysts say. He does not have enough money. And he does not have the feudal landlords, who for generations have had a stranglehold on politics here.
He may be popular and win votes for himself, but his party has not been able to muster the national support that could lead to power in parliament. Khan 'has no chance' "I'd like to vote for Imran Khan," said Kamal Matinuddin, a retired army lieutenant general and analyst. "But he has no chance." At this point, the rest of the opposition also appears to be foundering, analysts say. When the exiled leader of a second major party, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, flew home Sept. 10 with the blessing of the Supreme Court, massive rallies were announced.
But his flight plans changed at least three times. Opposition leaders and thousands of workers were arrested under a preventive law that aims to maintain public order. Blockades were set up near the capital's airport and around the city. Only several hundred people protested. The next day was supposed to be a day of protest. Again, nothing happened. And the next day, Khan planned to fly from Islamabad to Karachi. But as soon as his plane landed, police put Khan on another plane back to Islamabad. Several opposition leaders met last Friday. Khan and others then warned that the opposition would resign in protest from parliament if Musharraf tried to run in the presidential election.
In theory, that move would deny Musharraf legitimacy. But two of the most powerful opposition leaders have not joined up. And the next day, the government hit back. On Saturday, dozens of opposition leaders were arrested in a pre-emptive move to maintain public order. Khan himself escaped. He went into hiding, waiting to see what would happen next.
Khan is now an opposition leader in Pakistan, trying to make the most of a political crisis that could either topple President Pervez Musharraf or significantly reduce his power and force him to step down as army chief. But so far, the opposition is fractured. Politicians have not been able to get their act together, and the presidential election is due Oct. 6.
"Remember one thing -- the opposition can't take on the military," Khan said in an interview Friday. The failure of the political newcomer and the rest of the opposition to capitalize on Musharraf's problems shows what critics say is one of the glaring weaknesses of Pakistan's democracy.
For its entire 60-year history, the military has been the real power here, and the major political parties seem frozen in time, backing the same leaders who have repeatedly been accused of corruption or dictatorlike behavior. Khan is the only prominent new face to emerge in politics in recent years, and his success has been limited. His party won only one national parliamentary seat in the last election -- his.
'Disunity bordering on chaos'
Musharraf, a key U.S. ally in the war on terrorism, is at his weakest point since seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1999. He is struggling against Islamic militants, a newly emboldened Supreme Court and an increasingly hostile public.
Despite all those problems, Musharraf's government still has been able to divide the opposition, prevent any major protest in recent weeks and fend off most challenges. On Sunday, Dawn newspaper ran an editorial titled "Opposition in disarray" that said Musharraf's foes have been characterized "by disunity bordering on chaos."
Anti-Musharraf rallies have fizzled. Some opposition leaders have been rounded up easily -- most recently on Saturday, allegedly to maintain public order before the deadline for presidential nominations Thursday. Others appear to have been co-opted. Musharraf supposedly is negotiating a power-sharing deal with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who leads one of two major opposition political parties.
"The opposition is just in pieces," said Ayesha Tammy Haq, a lawyer and host of a political talk show. "And what's really, really sad is there are all these people who are hoping that the opposition will get together to do something. The people are fired up, but there's nobody to lead them."
Khan's experience as a juniorKhan's experience as a junior politician shows just how difficult it is to defy Musharraf's government. Since forming his political party, the Justice Movement, in 1996, Khan has applied many of his traits as a cricket player to politics. Yet he also has little chance of becoming a major player in the country's current political landscape, analysts say. He does not have enough money. And he does not have the feudal landlords, who for generations have had a stranglehold on politics here.
He may be popular and win votes for himself, but his party has not been able to muster the national support that could lead to power in parliament. Khan 'has no chance' "I'd like to vote for Imran Khan," said Kamal Matinuddin, a retired army lieutenant general and analyst. "But he has no chance." At this point, the rest of the opposition also appears to be foundering, analysts say. When the exiled leader of a second major party, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, flew home Sept. 10 with the blessing of the Supreme Court, massive rallies were announced.
But his flight plans changed at least three times. Opposition leaders and thousands of workers were arrested under a preventive law that aims to maintain public order. Blockades were set up near the capital's airport and around the city. Only several hundred people protested. The next day was supposed to be a day of protest. Again, nothing happened. And the next day, Khan planned to fly from Islamabad to Karachi. But as soon as his plane landed, police put Khan on another plane back to Islamabad. Several opposition leaders met last Friday. Khan and others then warned that the opposition would resign in protest from parliament if Musharraf tried to run in the presidential election.
In theory, that move would deny Musharraf legitimacy. But two of the most powerful opposition leaders have not joined up. And the next day, the government hit back. On Saturday, dozens of opposition leaders were arrested in a pre-emptive move to maintain public order. Khan himself escaped. He went into hiding, waiting to see what would happen next.
Chicago Tribune
WORLD
WORLD
Pakistani hero leads a team in disarray