National Assembly meaningless to people of Pakistan: Imran Khan.

Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been in the eye of almost every political storm to engulf the country in recent times. The Panama Papers, detailing offshore accounts and their beneficiaries, brought the party back onto the streets and in direct conflict with the ruling government in a dramatic – and anticlimactic – showdown. It is this state of constant agitation, among numerous other beguiling intricacies, that is forging a new identity for the PTI.

To find meaning in the ideology behind Khan’s enigmatic politics, the Heraldmet up with him at his residence in Bani Gala on a cool October day, as the PTI was preparing for its ‘lockdown’ of the federal capital — which later turned into a ‘celebration’. The following are excerpts from the conversation:

Herald. If seeking justice is the goal, why does the PTI still feel the need to bring its protest to the streets, when the Supreme Court has begun proceedings on the Panama leaks? Do you not think it will add to your image of having a lack of faith in the judiciary — or that of self-righteousness, where you speak highly of the courts if a decision is given in your favour and completely discredit it otherwise?

Imran Khan. Do people trust the democratic institutions in Pakistan? The answer is no. Nobody has faith in them. A recent survey at the World Economic Forum revealed that our state institutions have deteriorated further since the time of General Pervez Musharraf and, most alarmingly, that the independence of the judiciary has gone down. Imagine a military dictator having better functioning institutions than eight years of democracy under Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari.

How my experience of Diwali in Karachi took me to a city I never knew.

Karachi is often termed as a dull city, sometimes even dangerous. In a city of 20 odd million, there is a dearth of public spaces and limited avenues for cultural activities.

The much praised diversity has also come under scrutiny, with minorities migrating to greener pastures abroad and those staying back choosing to remain discreet.

The uncertain security situation restricts religious festivities of non-Muslims as well as the nurturing of our communities' collective imagination. Festivals come and go but they don’t manage to make headlines for the right reasons.

But anyone who has lived in Karachi for some time would know that the city opens up to its denizen gradually. There are pockets across the city that light up annually with festivities, religious and cultural, showing a fascinating side of the place that doesn't make the news.

Last week, my friend visiting from London asked me if I had any plans for Diwali.

I suggested we visit the Shri Swaminarayan temple, the biggest remaining Hindu temple in Karachi.

Why PTI protesters have much to learn from the past.

I have never pelted stones or fought with the police. As a Peoples Party jiyala in my youth, I was an active political worker.

I addressed hundreds of rallies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, organised meetings, participated in and led marches, and was at the receiving end of police batons dozens of times.

But I never threw a stone or a punch.

In my youth, we struggled against General Ziaul Haq’s martial law. The educated and well-off youth were not part of our struggle.

Today, it is different: the educated youth have been mobilised on a large scale and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) deserves the credit for this.

I am though concerned about how this political activism is manifesting. The teargas in the air and the containers on the roads repeat the story of violent protests. Pakistanis are, justifiably, expressing their discontent at the state of affairs.

But unlike the semi-literate, lower middle-class youth with whom I protested, I see the upper and middle-class youth active on the streets today. However, their activism doesn’t reflect the maturity of their privilege and education.

What I see are seemingly educated youth who are ignorant of how to be active in the political sphere.

I see PTI supporters throwing stones at the police and some even wrestling with law enforcement officers in Islamabad.

I see PTI-supporting lawyers in Lahore attacking cars and assaulting parents transporting children on motorbikes.

This is no way to be an enlightened political activist.

Our youth need mentoring. There is a way to be a jiyala or cheetah, and it does not involve throwing stones or punches.