By IANS,
Islamabad: The massive turnout at Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf rally in Lahore shows that it is no longer possible to dismiss the former cricket star as “some sort of also-ran” in Pakistani politics, a daily said Monday.
Tens of thousands had gathered for the rally Sunday and the News International editorially said that it “may be the beginning of a political tipping point”.
“Few in the audience – those in front of their TV sets and those that formed the crowd – would doubt the sincerity and earnestness that Imran exudes, given his consistent stands on the issues of corruption, loadshedding, bad governance and military operations,” it said.
Imran Khan warned of a civil disobedience in all the major cities if the politicians in power failed to declare their assets.
“Time will be the best judge of the wisdom or otherwise of civil disobedience over this issue – but for such a movement to happen it is imperative that (its) politics gain (a) foothold beyond Lahore and reach other cities,” it said.
The editorial went on to say that “it is no longer possible to dismiss Imran Khan as some sort of also-ran”.
“He may not be the finest public speaker in the world, but the audience he spoke to were there by their own choice rather than as the result of arm-twisting or payment.
“It was a predominantly young audience, with quite a few women present. Some of these may be first-time voters with no settled political allegiances as yet, and the choices they make in the next election could break an elderly mould that has persisted far too long,” it said.
“If nothing else the national demographic could be on Khan’s side.”
The editorial said that if Imran Khan and his party translate a mass of people into a mass of votes and “then become a new breed of legislators, then their worth as change agents is proven”.