Adil Najam
We want to do a blogging experiment (which requires us to put all comments under moderation) and really let our readers write this post on Pakistan’s Elections 2008. What we are doing is not unique, but there is a twist to how we wan to do it.
First, here is the question we want you to answer for us:
Please tell us which political leader or party you support, or you think should be supported, in Pakistan’s elections 2008 and why?
Now, here are the rules - and we will implement these rules strictly, so please do read them carefully. All comments that meet these criteria will be published. Comments that do not meet these criteria will not.
Rule #1: It is not enough to say who you think should be supported, you need to tell us WHY you think they should be supported. In fact, getting to the WHY is the only real point to the exercise.
Rule #2: We understand the importance of comparison and competition in politics, but you are NOT allowed to say who should NOT be supported (or why they should not be supported). You can only tell us who should be supported and why. You can only tell us who you think is ‘good’ and what is ‘good’ about them. Any mention at all of who you think is ‘bad’ or what is ‘bad’ about others will disqualify the comment.
Rule #3. Please do not try to be too “clever.” We are sure you are all very bright and we also know that you are passionate about your preferences. All of that is very good. However, in our moderation we will err on the side of caution and delete any attempt at all to circumvent Rule #2. So, please read your comment carefully before submission to make sure that it cannot be inadvertently understood as an attempt to get around Rule #2.
Rule #4. This brings us to our last and final rule. All comments on this post are placed automatically in moderation and will appear only after a system moderator approves them as having met the rules laid out here. Over the next couple of days we will try to look at the moderation queue as often as we can to reduce the time that comments stay in moderation. However, do please expect some delays between your posting a comment and its appearing here. Also, if you feel that your comment has been moderated, you are welcome to repost the comment this time wording it in a way that meets all these rules, especially Rule #2. While commenters are welcome to post comments more than once - especially if they are building on someone else’s comment - we will remove multiple comments from the same person if the content is the same or very similar; please, do not try to spam us with such repeated comments.
If you think that your leader or party has not gotten a fair deal from us at ATP or the media or the electorate, here is your opportunity to make a case for them. You can make a case for anyone you want. You just cannot make a case against anyone.
I realize that we do often make choices based primarily on what or who we do not like, rather than who or what we like. There is nothing wrong per se with that, but for our purpose we are taking that option off the table.
Too many of us take too much please, too often, in being cynical. Therefore, I suspect that focusing on our positive energies might turn out to be rather difficult for some of our readers. I sincerely hope that I am wrong.
MQM
For the good work they are doing in Karachi and what they did during Earthquake in 2005. This party has the potential and organizational capabilities required to manage a mega city like Karachi.
MQM
MQM has enough reasons for me to vote for it.
a) The only party (though with scarred history) which does not comprise of feudals and industrialists. New faces every elections - most representatives from the working class (quite a rarity)
b) Have matured as a party, great development work in Karachi (unseen in the last 60 years).
Pakistan Paindabad!
I and my family will vote for pakistan peoples party as this is the only party that i think can implemet true democracy and rule of law. Its history is full of sacrifices and its the only party which never bowed to establishment and army. Basically we need to get rid of army in politics and implement rule of law where noone is above law and constitution
I will vote for Imran Khan and his party.
He has started his party by working at the grass root levels, did not try to take any short cuts, has a clean record with no allegations of corruption, represents the majority of the middle class Pakistanis, has built a cancer hospital as one of his biggest personal achievements which benefit the common man directly, is well educated and knows very well how to represent the interests of Pakistan in front of the international public.
Imran Khan should be tried this time.
Assalam o alaikum,
I’ll support PML(N), because majority of its candidates are young and are from our generation, who really wants a change in this country. So inorder to get rid of old politicians and old system let join hands togehther and vote for the candidates of PML(N).
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.
I don’t agree completely with feudolian structure of PPP. However, as someone aptly said that politics is a choice between disaster and disagreement, I will support PPP and vote for Aitzaz Ahsan because:
1. Character: He has shown impeccable character by refusing to join civil service in protest of Ayub’s Marshal Law, even when he topped the CSS exams. He, as PPP’s Punjab provincial minister, resigned in protest when the police opened fire on a lawyers rally in Lahore during the PNA demonstrations against the alleged rigging of elections by the PPP government in 1977.
2. Communication. His eloquence, speech delivery and command on law are well respected by his peers. His ability to tell truth and his assert his convictions under extreme pressure and duress is extraordinary.
3. Courage: His courage and steel nerves are tested time and again…during Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) during Zia’s regime, taking on Musharaf’s regime by winning Chief Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar case etc.
4. Conviction. His conviction of rule of law, human rights and will of the people guides him through thick and thin.
5. Charisma. His charisma has inspired many in past and most recently fueled lawyers and students protest against Musharaf’s regime.
6. Competent. His superb education and hands on experience in various capacities gives him expertise to take on any challenge.
7. Crisis: His leadership is constantly strengthened by various crisis ..starting from Ayub, Zia to Musharaf’s regime.
[Note: I have used Lee Iacocca’s 9 C’s of Leadership to come to this decision. Source for some information in this article is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aitzaz_Ahsan
PMLQ.
I believe the party has done economic development in the past five years and should be given a mandate of another five years to continue to build on to it. This can be especially seen in the rural areas of Punjab, where you see many new roads, hardened canals, and more villages being electrified (and more tubewells).
I have lived near the town of Shorkot and seen some places in Jhang district and outskirts of Faisalabad, and I see all the villages there with at least one ubl/allied bank, one pso/caltex petrol pump, and one telenor/ufone shop, which are mostly used by the local people.
On a macro scale, compared to eight years back, the previous government has a better foreign policy (peace with India), a better fiscal and monetary policy (yes the 7% mantra), devolution of powers (district government system has brought government closer to people), a better defence (Al-Khalid MBT, Al-Zarrar tank, Agosta submarine, JF-17 Fighter are all indigenously produced and some exported as well), higher education reforms (PU, NUST, KU are in top 600 of THES-QS ranking for the first time), and the list doesn’t end here.
But despite of this a lot needs to be done, like the rich/poor gap due to some pro-rich policies, universal primary education, and an end to wars in Waziristan and Balochistan with economic upliftment of those so-called peripheral areas, which I think can only be performed if the previous government is elected again by the masses.