Washington: Imran riding a tidal of youth power: Report Languishing on the political sidelines for years, cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan is fast riding a tidal wave of youth support which could see him swept to power in Pakistan.
Though critics and political opponents still dismiss him as 'political nobody', US media reports said that the 58-year-old Tehreek-e-Insaf party chief was emerging as the most serious challenger in the country, cashing in almost total disillusionment of the people with mainline parties.
The New York Times said that the huge turnout at Khan's last evening rally in Lahore had made his opponents in the ruling People's party and Nawaz Sharif led Muslim League sit up with surprise and that the former pacer was also cashing in rampant anti-American sentiments in the country.
The paper said that though Khan's party has no seats in the current parliament, his popularity has soared recently as voters, specially younger ones, have grown disillusioned with the establishment parties.
NYT said a survey conducted by a US polling organisation, the Pew Research centre in June found that Khan had suddenly become the most popular figure in Pakistan.
The ruling Pakistan People's Party is not required to call general elections until February 2013, the paper said with a sinking economy, rising inflation, power struggles and terrorism taking a toll on the nation, a clamour had begun for a mid-term poll.
Khan in an interview to the paper said he expected the Lahore rally to be seen as a test of his political future.
"Lahore decides what happens in Punjab," he said. "Punjab decides what happens in Pakistan."
On the turnout at his rally, Khan said, "this is not a flood, this is a tsunami and anyone up against it will be swept away."
NYT said that Khan's anti-Americanism was at fore as he expressed opposition to cooperating with US against militants based in the country's north-west region, near the Afghan border.
He also said that Pakistan army should not conduct operations in those areas and not allow American drone strikes.
"My message to America is that we will have friendship with you, but we will not accept any slavery," he said. "We will help you in a respectable withdrawl of your troops from Afghanistan, but we will not launch a military operation in Pakistan for you."
The media report said that Imran was an emerging force and was already getting tactic backing from the powerful army as also endorsements from erstwhile military ruler Parvez Musharraf.