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.
PMLN.
1) PMLN is the only participating party supporting restoration of pre-Nov 3rd judiciary
2) PMLN stands for the federation
3) Nawaz Sharif’s mature and responsible behavior after BB’s murder
4) His prinicpled and unwavering stand against Musharraf
5) His frank talk with Americans, criticizing Bush for supporting one man against a nation of 160 million.
And all the reasons listed by Rahim Khan.
With the choices I currently have and looking at past performance in the field of mainly economical development of the country (whatever the scale) over the last ten years, my support & vote is again with the Musharraf Government and its PML (Q).
As a general rule I try not to comment on my own posts (I figure I have already made the case I needed to make and should not abuse my privilige to hog the bandwidth even further). In this case, however, because of the experimental nature of this post (and its rules) I thought it appropriate to make an exception.
First, my gratitude to everyone who has commented here following the experimental rules for this post that we had laid out. I am pleasantly surprised at the number and content of the posts and it reaffirms my optimism that, when we want to, we can leave the negativity aside. More importantly, I think an analysis of the responses received would itself be interesting; not only in terms of who people say they would support but also - and more importantly - why. So, thank you again for these comments.
Second, unfortunately, a lot of comments had to be moderated out; either because they did not understand or did not want to follow the guidelines for commenting on this particular post. Some of our most prolific and regular commenters seem to be in this list. We hope that they will, in fact, share their views on this question - but only if they take the trouble of reading and following the guidelines for thsi experiment.
Third, and finally, my apology (again) that for technical reasons we have had to put on automatic moderation for everyone and on all posts in order to be able to do so on this one. We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused in your commenting on other posts. However, from our perspective, the overall effect has been a sobering one and maybe - just maybe - for the sake of everyone’s sanity we will consider making this moderation permanent
I will support MMA candidates because they take the Islamic nature of Pakistan seriously.
IMHO, the SYSTEM is in need of a complete overhaul. It is high time for a new breed of politicians who have the credibility and the trust of the people and who demonstrate their commitment to justice and moral values not merely in slogans and rhetoric but in practice. And who uphold the independence of the judiciary, the media, and address the hopes and aspirations of the common man. And who uphold the separation of powers of the different organs of the state.
I will support and if possible join forces with those folks/groups who are working towards these goals. It is not enough to denounce just the problems within the system but to engage or support the campaigns and movements that are pursuing change for the betterment of Pakistan’s forgotten so-called ‘silent majority’.
Anybody, who meets these criteria - that individual will have my vote, no matter the political party, ethnic background or the gender.
I would vote for PPP because:
1) Even with BB gone, the ‘arrow’ symbol and ZAB/BB’s photos can bring people from many parts of Pakistan under one tent, so to speak. Pakistan’s federation is at grave risk since BB’s death as she was ‘indisputably’ the chain that linked four provinces (with even significant representation in FATA, Northern Areas, and AJK, as seen by the mourning).
2) PPP is not all feudal. There are still diehard supporters from the middle class (Raza Rabbani, Aitzaz Ahsan, Wajid Shamul Hassan…) who have been around for decades and have proved their character through sacrifices and courage in face of various repressive rulers.
3) PPP has always stood for the rule of law and the supremacy of civilian rule. This I say even though BB came back to Pakistan in Oct. 2007 as result of the ‘deal’. But nowhere, at least in public, PPP was willing to sit with a president in uniform. In my opinion, after taking advantage of the ‘political space’ given to her, BB would join hands with Nawaz Sharif in the next parliament (and that’s why PML-N decided to contest elections at BB’s insistence) and restore judiciary, neutralize the powers of Musharraf.
4) PPP, ANP and MQM are the only 3 parties in Pakistan who are anti-establishment. While ANP never regained its prowess of the 70’s, both MQM and PPP have been hunted down most of the time. That is likely to continue in future.
5) A pertinent question to ask would be: How much today’s PPP different from that of the 70’s? Can it go back to its ideals which inspired millions upon millions of Pakistanis into its fold? I believe it can, especially if Fatima Bhutto leads. The politics of Left must stay alive in Pakistan and in the world at-large. In Pakistan a matured PPP can play that role in future.
Nawaz Sharif and You and I, will make Pakistan into a economically powerful nation of Asia. He has done a lot in short tenures, give him 5 years, and see the real development.
Nawaz Sharif’s PML(N)
1. Vast Experience in development and uplift of society.
2. Honest Leaders of PMLN have delivered, many times.
3. Infrastructure oriented Airports, Highways, Ports, etc.
4. Pays great attention to Health/Education.
5. Empowers the Big & Small Business of Pakistan.
6. Responsible for Industrial Development in Pakistan.
7. Believes in Economic Emancipation of people.
8. Improved standard of living for average Pakistani.
9. Civil rights, justice for all & reform oriented leadership.
10. Balanced Foreign Policy