Imran Khan’s Hunger Strike

Mr Imran Khan the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has gone on hunger strike for the restoration of the judiciary in Pakistan. He is in under arrest in D G Khan prison and has been charged with treason and terrorism, an offence which can be tried under a military court and he can be sentenced to death. With this, the struggle in Pakistan is entering a very significant stage.

Going on hunger strike is the most effective non-violent political strategy used in the world where a confined individual, can do no more but challenge the status quo by putting his own life at stake. The most celebrated hunger strike was that of the prisoners of the Irish Republican Army led by Bobby Sands. They went on a no-food no-water hunger strike and died after 59 to 73 days. They had willed that their family will not agree to drip feeding also even after they became unconscious. Although ten men died during the course of the hunger strike, thirteen others were taken off hunger strike, either due to medical reasons or after intervention by their families. Many of them still suffer from the effects of the strike, with problems including digestive, visual, physical and neurological disabilities. Mahatma Gandhi frequently went on hunger strikes but he never went beyond 21 days. He
drank water and fluids during this period and used it as an effective tool for independence of India along with Jinnah’s legal battles.

Force feeding of hunger strikers was banned by World Medical Association in their conference in Tokyo in 1975 because a government cannot take away the right of the prisoner hunger striker to protest, but the US government has not complied with it since 2002 when they faced hunger strike from Guantanamo Bay prisoners where they force fed the prisoners.

As far as medical effects are concerned no-food no-water hunger strike is the most dangerous as permanent loss of eye sight is the result starting from the fourth week. In all cases the weakening of the body and loss of weight (actually there is strengthening of the spirit, and a feeling of euphoria during the first ten days) is the biggest tool of a political hunger strike.

Therefore now that Mr Khan has started the strike let us devise a plan on what can be done.

1. We must have a panel of doctors to keep an eye on Khan’s physical condition who can communicate with the jail doctor
2. We must have a daily medical bulletin
3. We must have other strikers in different cities in Pakistan even other parts of the world
4. As Khan loses weight build up a national and international uproar on the issue and who better to do it than the e-citizens of Pakistan and their friends around the world
5. Let us make sure that our goal is reached soon

As I know Khan very well, I assure you that this is not political gimmickry. He is very serious and is ready to give his life to save the judiciary and Pakistan. We will find it difficult to dissuade him from his will to do this right up to the end, so let us get serious before things get too bad. When this battle is won you will find other battles facing you because putting Pakistan back on track is no easy task.

All of us have different potentials strengths and commitment. Please do everything in your power to liberate the people of Pakistan from this tyranny. The biggest quality of great leaders is that they give a vision to people beyond the immediate and the petty.

Dr Arif Alvi
Vice President
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf