The Return of the Maverick Khan

The Diplomat (Japan)

23 October 2016

Abdul Basit

Pakistan’s political landscape is porous and highly unpredictable, making it extremely difficult to write-off any political figure or entity for low public ratings or poor electoral performance. Sudden developments can revive the dwindling fortunes of a political underdog or precipitate the downfall of a stable political actor.

Against this backdrop, all those who think Imran Khan has become a spent political force in the labyrinth of Pakistan’s topsy-turvy politics might be compelled to reconsider their opinions soon. His critics and detractors call him a foolhardy politician prone to whimsical decisions and impulsive thinking. Indeed, Kaptaan, as he is known, is a political maverick, but that is his brand of politics.

Generally, his regular calls for dharna (protests), agitational street politics, and the ensuing failures on all counts, coupled with defeat in the recent by-polls, are all considered reasons for his political decline. This point of view has some merit but misses a finer point: Khan’s political resilience and regenerative capacity as a gutsy fighter.

… The author is an Associate Research Fellow (ARF) at the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore.

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