UK Pakistanis jump on Imran bandwagon

LONDON: With Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan’s flying high in the opinion polls on the back of a so-called tsunami of the Lahore rally, political workers from various parties and organisations in the UK are jumping on the former cricketer’s bandwagon, deserting their erstwhile allies and mentors.
The UK Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UKPCCI), a trade body set up with Pakistan High Commission’s help to help boost trade between the two countries, is the latest entity to support the politics of Imran Khan, causing embarrassment to the High Commission.
The chamber plans an event in the honour of Khan next month at a Central London venue. And sensing a rare opportunity to make a bit of profit, too, one of the three PTI chapters in the UK and the UKPCCI are asking the British Pakistanis to pay £2,500 for a table of 10 on an intimate evening of politics, music and revolutionary chatter - Pakistani style.
The UKPCCI has been receiving backing from the Pakistan government and the High Commissioner to UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan has been its chief supporter but the chamber leaders wasted no time in taking side with Khan apparently taking note of the ripple effects created by the PTI rally in the Punjab capital.
But it leaves the HC in a very tight spot as many question whether the Pakistan diplomatic mission was supporting Imran Khan through the offices of the UKPCCI. Though the HC denies the impression, sceptics believe the UKPCCI would either be naive or part of a plan to challenge Nawaz Sharif’s party in the UK and may be the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, with whom Imran Khan locked horn with in recent years.
Whether the UKPCCI has increased trade between Pakistan and the UK is anybody’s guess but the decision to back Khan is certainly a controversial move and will lead to the divisions amongst various Pakistani businessmen, a source in the UKPCCI told The News.
The source said on condition of anonymity that several Pakistani businessmen, who are part of the UKPCCI but belong to different Pakistani political parties would not be happy at the chamber’s decision.
They have told the UKPCCI’s leaders that a separate chapter will be launched which will “endeavour to restore the credibility of the organisation”. Many businessmen in the UKPCCI are staunch supporters of Pakistan Muslim League-N.
Speaking to The News, Syed Qamar Raza, President of UKPCCI said he had nothing to do with PTI although its leadership in UK thought he was taking over the party but agreed that the decision to back Imran Khan had split the UKPCCI and the HC was very upset.
In a statement, the HC agreed that it has participated/attended some of the community events organised by the organisation but added the HC is not a partner with UKPCCI. “The HC supports all the organisations of the Pakistan community which are contributing towards the welfare of the community as well as Pakistan.
The HC, it needs to be mentioned, does not monitor or supervise the activities of any organisation since every organisation has it own systems and procedure to run the affairs as per their aims and objectives.”