Imran Khan: Myth of the Pakistani Middle-Class By Nadeem Farooq Paracha

by Nadeem Farooq Paracha

During last decade’s upsurge in the fortunes of populist politics in numerous countries, Imran Khan emerged as its central figure in Pakistan. Globally, Khan never became as prominent in this context as his populist contemporaries such as Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, Narendra Modi, Boris Johnson and Viktor Orbán. But he was very much a product of the populist wave that began to sweep across various regions from 2010 onwards. In Imran Myth of the Pakistani Middle-Class, Nadeem Farooq Paracha explores the political, social and historical factors that led to Khan’s rise and his eventful fall as a politician. In so doing, Paracha also scrutinises the political and social dynamics of Khan’s core constituency, the urban middle-classes. He demonstrates how these classes have continued to sabotage their own political interests due to their stubborn search for ‘strongmen.’

Genres: Pakistan

129 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Noor ul Ain · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is very interesting to read this book right after the general elections of 2024 in which PTI has won in a landslide (according to form 45s uploaded by three political parties, The Guardian, and Bloomberg amongst others). I have always liked NFP’s books, but this one has made me question everything I have read written by him.
Let me start by admitting that I am a supporter of IK, but I am unable to find myself in any of the ‘middle classes’ mentioned by NFK in this book. There is some truth mingled with biased musings on selected phenomenon. He has explored the religious card, the old rhetoric and the role of military quite well, but he has not talked about a lot of other factors, some of which are:
1. IK is an alternative to the tried and tested politicians whose tales of corruption are well known. (Mr. 10 percent, the grotesque wealth of the Sharif family etc.) IK is not seen as a ‘messiah’ by me or anyone I know, he is seen as the least evil option right now, despite his lack of experience and ‘volatile nature’ (NFP’s words not mine)
2. NFP has consistently mentioned the economic failure of IK’s government but has failed to mention even a single example. I am not stating that there aren’t any examples, but I would have liked to read his views on a particular example which would have gone some way for his analysis to appear unbiased.
3. He has put inverted commas around IK calling his political rivals (Sharif and Zardari family) corrupt all through the book. I am not sure if this is because he has used the exact word, or he is implying air quotes which would mean he doubts the claims? He then goes on to casually mention the welfare programs of PPP like Benazir Income Support, subtly implying that these were successful. Based on the experiences of people I know (granted they are 5-6 families only), these are rife with corruption with the dispensers of the funds demanding between 50-80% of the money, not to mention the money which disappears from the top.
Furthermore, he has mentioned that Nawaz Sharif, Benazir Bhutto and Zardari are experienced politicians but has failed to mention what their ‘experience’ has done for Pakistan.
4. He has mentioned the role of the Military Establishment (ME) in politics again and again but has failed to mention the core problem. Why is ME involved in politics at all? Who are they, a select few, to decide the fate of millions of people?
5. He has heavily implied the ‘political stupidity’ of the middle class. The question is who is he to decide what is stupid and what is not? True democracy means going with what the majority of the people want, whether it is being ruled by Trump, Modi or IK (an unfair comparison in my opinion).
6. What he has said about IK’s supporters not open to a logical debate is true to a large extent, but again he has not mentioned the flip side being equally true i.e. if I talk about the absolutely useless Daanish Schools, a programme by Shahbaz Sharif, I am always accused of being a ‘youthia’ without any logical answers to my questions.
7. He has not mentioned the role the two political dynasties (political dynasties is another topic he has avoided all together) have played to make people (especially those well versed in Social Media) flock towards IK. Their lies (Hussain Nawaz claiming that the Avenfield flats are Maryam Nawaz’s and Maryam Nawaz saying she does not have any property, Shahbaz Sharif claiming his father was a poor worker and Nawaz Sharif saying he was an industrialist) and their same old rhetoric against each other and then forming an alliance, are old tactics and people are tired of them.
In all, I am extremely disappointed. In my opinion, this is NFK’s weakest work. I realise that this is an analysis, and his own personal opinion will colour it, but there has to be some basis for that personal opinion. In many places, he has failed to provide that basis, which makes this book seem extremely biased.

[Zarish Fatima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nadeem Farooq Paracha is unapologetically left and Liberal and that is a well-known fact. I also know that he is a PPP supporter or, at least, is very sympathetic with the party. Why? I don't know why people vote for PPP. Why they did in the past is actually very clear, but Pakistan is a country of dynastic politics. One thing Paracha completely fails to touch in this book. He might say that it was not relevant to the topic, but honestly, I believe whenever we talk about the rise of Imran Khan, it's important to talk about why other parties have such hard going against him in Urban centres.
This book, despite the issues I mentioned in the first paragraph, is actually very good read. Paracha analyses khan in a global context and also in the context of Pakistan's own political history. Khan, he explains, is not such an anomaly as many believe. Khan is done and repeated versions of many nationalistic, populist, autocratic, but most importantly charismatic politicians. The issue lies within the new middle class of Pakistan. Pakistani middle class is no longer a few people. it's large and significant. They are educated and have financial mobility and now covet political mobility. They want politicians that represent them, not the lower class( PPP) or the elite industrialist class (PMLN). They want someone who talks about corruption about the rights of amm Adami.
Paracha did an excellent job of explaining how religion and economics are mixed and how middle class plays an important role in it. The thing that really clicked with me is how he explains complete lifestyle liberals in Pakistan going around supporting Imran Khan, who is complete Conservative in his discourse at least.
Paracha does not say anything new, at least not anything Imran Khan dissenters have not already said. He does explain why Imran Khan had such a large following among Urban middle class. As the book is very current, I suggest everyone give it a read.

[cybill · Rating 2 out of 5]

believe me i tried very hard to keep an open mind throughout but sometimes just using jargon and a bunch of buzzwords isn't enough

[Haris Niazi · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books written on the topic. NFP explains each aspect of the Middle Class of Pakistan. Starts every chapter by providing a background of a theory and then explains it in terms of ground realities of Pakistani society. Highly recommended.

[Samar Sajid · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by Nadeem Farooq Paracha as a result of impulse buying (I had been watching way too many podcasts recently on related topics), and I must say it turned out to be a pleasant, informative read. It promoted me to buy more of his works. I like the fact that it's written in an easy language because in these testing times of a socially and politically divided society, more and more people need to be exposed to such perspectives. Many of my highly educated friends act very unreasonable when this topic springs up among us, I would love to recommend this book to them. To them and to our overseas Pakistani brothers and sisters in whom I have observed this notion to be even stronger. But in short, this book is for every Pakistani. Those born before the 21st centaury (or having gone through the historical events mentioned in the book) will enjoy it even more. The one star I deducted was for it being too short. I finished it in two days. Wanted more. Cheers.

[Haris Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

My curiosity for Pak politics and recent upsurge of the cricketer turned politician, and former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has made me read that book. NFP seems like a prolific writer and have done theoretical judgement and social analysis of rise and fall (yup he concluded to that, lets see). The book itself is enigmatic mirroring Khan's own personality. I dont know or cant confirm the veracity of his claims or his analysis of his analysis, but it surely enriched me shades of Khan; a populist, messiah kind of figure, master narrative, knows his game, and his intransigent character has made him both lustlful for power and also a candy-eye for the emotional masses. All in all, it was not a fulfilling or comprehensive read yet was compelling and page turner, a fine write I guess. But it certainly has broadened my understanding of recent chaos, ironically seems perennial.

[Nadeem Kashif Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening!