Imran Khan is rallying supporters in Lahore today ahead of the May 11 election. The cricket star-turned politician has promised to change Pakistan, and he is considered to be one of the biggest threats to the two parties that have dominated the nation for a long time. It’s been speculated for months that Imran Khan would become Pakistan’s next prime minister.
Approximately 100,000 people showed up today in support of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader, who is expected to reveal his plans to win the election in May and foster change in the nation. Imran Khan leapt into the public sphere in 1992 when he led the country’s cricket team to the World Cup and then helped build a world-class cancer facility which provides free care for the poor.
Imran Khan chose to hold his rally at the location where Indian Muslims first demanded to have their own nation 73 years ago. Most of his supporters belong to the younger generation in Pakistan. Also many members of the urban middle-class have joined his bid to become the nation’s next prime minister.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) has been around since 1996, and Imran Khan’s promises to get rid of corruption and solve the county’s unemployment and poverty problems, as well as its ongoing crisis of power, have convinced many that he will be able to bring the change they have been seeking. PTI is the first political party in Pakistan to hold elections for its leaders, and it claims to be Pakistan’s only party that’s truly democratic. Imran Khan also has promised that if PTI is voted into power, it would create a cabinet with 18 members.
While many are convinced that Imran Khan can bring change to Pakistan, others say that he has virtually no chance of winning the election. Polls indicate that Pakistanis view him as the nation’s most popular politician, but in order for Imran Khan to get into power, he must win the May 11 election.
Leaders of the PTI said more than 70,000 seats were arranged for the rally today, and they claimed that more attendees would be seated on the ground at the rally. The rally also included performances by bands playing patriotic tunes and speeches by other party leaders. Imran Khan has promised that today would be the turning point in which politics in Pakistan would change because this will be the day when Pakistan’s swing vote would turn in favor of PTI.
