Adil Najam
I found this full page ad in Dawn very interesting. And also very democratic. Maybe a national conversation does need to be held on who (or what qualities) makes for a good prime Minister?
(click picture to see a larger, more readable, image)
Do you have any ideas? Lets try to do this not on the basis of who can win, but who (or what qualities) should we want as our Prime Minister. At least as an intellectual exercise, and a national conversation, we should be able to get out of Benazir Bhutto v. Nawaz Sharif v. Pervaiz Elahi type of ‘pragmatic’ discussion into a discussion of what we really would like to see in a Prime Minister. Dawn’s set of criteria is a very good place to start.
So, folks, give us your ideas but please please please do not again repeat the same old slogans and naaras about why you don’t like who you don’t like. Lets try to focus this on who you like, and why. And even this is someone who has no real chance of winning, lets at least think about what qualities makes you wish that this person would win.
The ad gives these criteria for the person we should be looking for:
- He should be bold in upholding the law without fear or favor, but his actions must be tempered by the heart.
- He must be learned in teh art of policy making, but not lacking in mobilizing popular support for his policies.
- He must be honest to a fault, but neither dull nor unimaginative as to be able to figure our white-collar crime.
- He must deal with civil servants with firmness and retain an unerring belief in teh rule of law. He must allow a sense of participation around him so the Pakistani electorate is able to guide his thinking. He must shepard a nation of activists - not police a fold of huddled sheep.
One should note that they clarify: “This man or indeed woman could be completely unknown. Or it could be that astute and honest politician who long deserves recognition for integrity, competence, or even an ability to perform a deft Machiavellian maneuver.“
Adil:
Pakistan is full of qualified people ready for and capable of taking up the job. Trouble is that they do not come from the ‘Political Houses’ of Pakistan. Choudhari Brothers, Sharif Brothers, Bhutto Dynasty, Mullah Brigade, Nawabs, Sardars and Mirs; this is our lot from where our next Prime Minister is going to come from and that is a very depressing reality. Our people will vote for who ever gives them ride to the poling station and one days worth of wages. I hear folks here mentioning Imran Khan. Does he have the right temperament for the job? With his false notion of his own racial superiority over others, could he be a ‘peoples’ leader? His family has been living in Punjab for centuries yet he considers himself a ‘pathan’ first and anything else later. Do we need more ‘ethnic’ leaders? Hell if he is a ‘pathan’ then I am king of Persia. I think we could use services of an other man like ’short-cut’ Shoukat. Men who could be easily replaced with every round of elections. Dispensable utility men. Not scions of a ‘house of lords’ who will never leave but continue to cast their dark shadows generation after generation.
I am amazed that Dawn should lament about the dearth of suitable candidates for the head of state. There are 160 million of them.
Personally, I agree with Sidhas’ suggestion with the modification that “you” is not an acceptable choice.
Also Shahbaz Sharif.
Shoukat Aziz is best choice proven record.
How about
1. You or I
I have firm believe that anyone of us with just integrity and sense of purpose alone will lead the nation on brighter path then the current leadership.
Lets forget about the middle class, a simple country bumpkin (not a MMA zealot ) with just integrity will do a better job.
So far we have been ruled by people without integrity and honor and with little or no education.
This is prety interesting. I also tried to portrait the next ideal candidate for primeministership on my blog www.mypakistan.com/?p=850
But I think instead of looking for new prime minister, we should look for new president because there is a presidential system in Pakistan.
@ Potential candidates :
According to my humble observations :
1. Nawaz Shareef/Shehbaz
2. Prof Khurshid
3. Ahmed Javed
4. Imran Khan
5. Itizaz Ahsan
6. Kashmala…….
7. Sartaj Aziz
1. Abdul Sittar Edhi
2. Ansar Burni
3. Adil Najam
4. Imran Khan