Page 11 - ARUBA TODAY

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WORLD NEWS Friday 27 July 2018

Khan moves from cricket star to pious, anti-poverty reformer

By KATHY GANNON ON THE TREATMENT OF
Associated Press WOMEN
ISLAMABAD (AP) — As for- Khan has publicly ex-
mer cricket star Imran Khan pressed his admiration
claimed victory Thursday for the justice dispensed
in Pakistan's parliamentary against women by "jirgas" —
election, he has promised or councils of elders. These
to fight corruption and help councils have banned
millions of impoverished women from voting; given
citizens. children to old men to mar-
He says he also wants good ry in order to settle disputes;
relations with his neighbors and ordered a woman to
and the United States, but be stripped naked and pa-
also has leveled criticism raded through a village for
against them. a dishonor or crime com-
Once a celebrity playboy, mitted by a male relative.
Khan now embraces con- Khan also has attacked
servative Islamic stands Pakistan's political liber-
and keeps company with als and berated Western
radical clerics who often feminist ideals, saying it de-
espouse a philosophy that grades motherhood.
frightens Pakistan's minori- ON THE BLASPHEMY LAW
ties. He calls for an Islamic In this photo provided by the office of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, Pakistani politician Imran Khan campaigned openly
welfare state that provides Khan, delivers his address in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, July 26, 2018. promising to support and
progress and education for Associated Press defend Pakistan’s blasphe-
the poor. my laws.
Khan's stands on some key establishment has directly dismissed widespread al- sidestepped discussion on . Rights groups and minori-
issues: or indirectly ruled the coun- legations of manipulation its role in civilian affairs, by ties say the measures are
ON MILITARY DOMINANCE: try for most of its seven de- during the election cam- simply saying the army is often used to settle local
Pakistan's powerful military cades of existence. Khan paign by the military and Pakistan. scores.q