Can't you hear them, Americans?
"Sport legend’s political star rises in Pakistan" December 26, 2011
KARACHI - More than 100,000 people rallied in support of Pakistani cricket legend and opposition politician Imran Khan in the southern city of Karachi yesterday, further cementing his status as a rising force in politics.
His message of cracking down on corruption and standing up to the United States has found new resonance at a time when Pakistanis are fed up with the country’s chronic insecurity and economic malaise....
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"Pakistani politician rallies 100,000" October 31, 2011|Associated Press
ISLAMABAD - Opposition politician Imran Khan railed against the government and its alliance with the United States before more than 100,000 flag-waving supporters yesterday, establishing himself as a force in Pakistani politics.
Khan, 58, a legendary cricket player, entered politics 15 years ago when he founded Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, or the Movement for Justice Party, but up to now he has struggled to translate his fame into votes.
The rally in the eastern city of Lahore indicated his message may have found new resonance at a time when Pakistanis are fed up with the country’s instability and economic malaise.
“I have come here to register my hatred against this corrupt system,’’ said 29-year-old Nadeem Iqbal, who attended the rally.
A poll conducted by the US-based Pew Research Center in June found Khan, the captain of Pakistan’s 1992 world champion cricket team, to be the most popular political figure in the country.
Khan’s rising popularity could be a concern for the United States, given his harsh criticism of the Pakistani government’s cooperation with Washington in the fight against Islamist militants.
He has been especially critical of US drone strikes targeting militants in Pakistan’s rugged tribal region along the Afghan border.
I abhor the damn things.
The latest suspected strike killed six alleged militants in a vehicle in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, Pakistani intelligence officials said.
And here I was told the strikes had slowed down.
Khan has argued that Pakistan’s alliance with the United States is the main reason Pakistan is facing a homegrown Taliban insurgency.
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