BY ANJUM NIAZ
Slouching towards oblivion is a phrase I’ve borrowed. Never mind. It sits well on Imran Khan, my interviewee for the next 2 hours. I must know if he’s fast becoming history? While IK, as all call him, gains the stature of a rock star when cranking up issues that hit you in the heart, his buzz doesn’t last long. The chief justice’s restoration has left him by the roadside. Why? We’ll get to it in a moment.
Today, he sits in splendid isolation serenaded by the magnificent Margallas facing him directly. ‘I don’t live in a palace; I live in paradise,’ is his oft-repeated epigram. Indeed, the home that wife Jemima built atop the highest hill around Islamabad is a standalone, just like its occupant. It’s rugged, muscular and handsome, just like its dweller. The bedroom is Spartan - floor to ceiling grey enameled painted windows opening up to the elements. The furniture looks tired. Hard to miss are a pile of aged prayer rugs sitting on the back of a sofa. He’s a five-time namazi - puritanical, sober and sagacious.
The interview is hardly a scoop. Imran is an open book. His pronouncements are like threadbare clichés. He’s anti-American; Taliban-tolerant and an NRO-basher. Drone attacks are his catchphrase. So what else is new? To fire up things, I sprinkle some more truth that bedevils IK’s ascent to the very top.
You’re a friend of the fundos (read Qazi Hussain Ahmad) and a lover of the Taliban. You’re confused …one day you praise the Sharia law in Swat and the next day you accuse Sufi Mohammad of violating the Quran. What’s with you?
IK merely smiles. ‘Zardari, Maulana Fazlul Rehman and their ilk (notice he leaves out Nawaz Sharif & Asfandyar Wali) are confused. They showcase themselves as westernised liberals because they want American aid. Their somersaults on Swat deal are shameful. They frog marched before Gordon Brown and ordered our troops to kill fellow Pakistanis in Malakand. There are 1.5 million armed men on both sides of the tribal belt. Are you going to kill them all? Qazi sahib is a man of honour. He’s untainted with corruption. I therefore respect him.
You were a hot ticket in 1996 elections. On the eve of the polls, PTV carried a damning story about your love affair and a love child. Sita White was on every lip.
‘More than the Sita White affair, I was completely demolished by the Jewish lobby claiming that my former father-in-law Jimmy Goldsmith (British billionaire) pumped $40 million for my election campaign. As for Sita, I never claimed to be an angel. I’ve never glossed over my personal life. I admit my faults but have since undergone an inner transformation. Spirituality has made me a better person.’
But the MQM was unforgiving. In its media trial you were charged with adultery. Cricketer S also jumped into the fray. He flew to London to meet Altaf Hussain. You never followed through with your counter charges (terrorism) against the MQM leadership. Why?
‘I’ve proof but my witnesses are terrified to come forward. I asked that the Scotland Yard come and record their statements in Pakistan but because MQM has been in the government, the Yard was denied visas.
You’re still sexy and fit at 57. Is there a woman in your life?
IK laughs. ‘Politics is my life. I don’t have time for anything else. My greatest happiness comes from being a father. It’s given me fulfillment. But I’m sad my sons don’t live with me. For their sake I’ll never remarry.’
You play solo? Sources close to you say that this is a big turn off. An air force couple based in Peshawar collected money for your cancer hospital. You arrived, sat on their sofa with feet up including the chappals, got the money and left without a word of thanks?
‘I wasn’t a public person then. I couldn’t make speeches. Many mistook my shyness and the desire to be alone as arrogance.’
Once in a lifetime a person gets the chance that you got to show leadership qualities before a world audience - the World Cup in 1992. But you blew it? You only talked about yourself and your cancer hospital, nothing about the team?
‘I had retired from cricket. I returned for Shaukat Khanum. I had to raise money for my hospital. Remember out of nine teams, we were placed 2nd from bottom, the odds being one to 50. My sister who was fundraising called from Lahore with a frantic message that people were pulling out of their pledges because Pakistan was going to lose. We won! But I was not prepared for a speech before a marathon crowd. Even now when I watch that speech of mine, I hang my head in shame.’
Don’t you owe your whole persona to cricket? Why snub it now? You’re silent on our being out of the loop for the next World Cup?
IK’s eyes narrow with anger ‘It’s criminal. Imagine how much money we could have earned? Even now if we swap with Australia, there’s a chance we host it next time. But like Pakistan, cricket is run on ad hoc basis where the president handpicks the cricket head. Besides, I’ve a higher call (Tehreek-i-Insaaf) to attend to.
Was there match fixing during your 10 years of captaincy?
‘No. But in the Sharjah Cup final (1989) where we played Australia, I was told that four of my players had sold out. I called my team and told them I’ll watch your game like a hawk and if you don’t perform according to your potential, I’ll have you put in jail! The threat worked and my boys played a winning game.’
You come so strong against the American administration. You’re the last person they’d want to see in power? Why hate them?
‘Never would I consent to becoming a puppet PM! Pakistan’s sovereignty is not for sale to the Americans. To legitimatise Musharraf, the US forced the NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) on us and talked about it openly because they have so much contempt for the people of Pakistan.
We need an Ataturk? Can you be one?
‘No. He’s not my model. You can’t force your people to become westernised at the point of a gun. My models are Jinnah and Mahathir of Malaysia.’
The Chief Justice’s restoration seems to disappoint you and Qazi Hussain. You two are the only losers? Were you not hoping for mid-term polls? Aitzaz Ahsan didn’t even bother acknowledging your critical role in the long march. He only mentioned the Sharifs whom he kept informed when the march was being put off. Isn’t that insulting?
‘Tehreek-i-Insaaf is movement for justice. I didn’t participate for power but to change the system. I am positive that in the next 6 months you will see justice restored because we now have an independent judiciary. The Chief Justice is phenomenal. Wait and see what he does. I didn’t participate for political gain.’
You’re not an idealist; you’re not a romantic; you’re not shallow (even though when you entered politics people thought you lacked substance); so why then are men like you not in the forefront of our destiny?
‘I’m in no hurry. My time will come. We have a groundswell of people joining us. The man on the street and I want to live in dignity, not US enslavement. Our culture, values, belief is sacrosanct and is not for sale to foreigners. Our sovereignty is non-negotiable.
What do you think of Daphne Barak? She seemed very chummy with you when she came to interview you?
‘Well she was a friend of Benazir and Asif too. But now Asif Zardari and Sanam Bhutto have disowned their interviews with her. The trouble with us Pakistanis is our gora complex. The more we kowtow before them the more they show us contempt. When Tony Blair came here he said he was at Oxford the same time as me and keenly followed my cricket career. In jumped Aitzaz Ahsan and Amin Fahim standing near us. ‘Please prevail on BB to return to Pakistan,’ they groveled before Blair. Immediately his tone changed towards us - he was the master and we the servants!’
This interview was taken before Imran Khan hit the headlines again when denied entry into Karachi recently.
