Adil Najam
Speaking of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani’s upcoming trip to USA and meeting with President George Bush a politically astute and well-connected friend in Pakistan said, “Its going to be a meeting of two lame ducks. George Bush is a lame duck because his tenure is about to end, and Yousuf Raza Gillani is a lame duck because his tenure never really started!”
For those who wish to see real democracy in Pakistan such comments instill a certain sadness. Yet, as a recent The News editorial highlighted, there is an increasing, palpable, and disturbing concern amongst Pakistanis about exactly who, if anyone, in in control of the government in Pakistan.
We thought maybe we should put exactly that question to our readers in this ATP Poll: Who do you think calls the shots? Who is really in-charge of Pakistan’s government today?
Of course, one could make this broader and more abstract by adding the Allah, Umreeka or Army responses. But our interest right now is on the daily governance of the country and who is calling the shots there.We woudl appreciate if the responses and comments also focus on that.
How sad that a country full of talented people and these are the leaders we get-Musharraf, Zardari, Sharif, Fazlur Rahman. We really should be able to do better than this.
Hail mighty English linguist Mr Rasheed. However there are more important aspects to YRG’s visit & the questions surrounding our “sovereignty” (I hope I spelled correctly :D) that need our attention. It is because of this mentality that we still don’t have Urdu versions of professional disciplines’ syllabi or even an Urdu MS Windows. “Sovereign.i.ty”…..!! God help us…
@ MZ,
What shall I say ? interesting, between the lines !!
@
The Jiyalah Pir Minister is to return, proving that he is
not in-charge at all.
“Khair se buddhu ghar ko lotey” ! reminds me of a beautiful
punjabi muhawara !
Hath puraney khoseray, Basantey auri aie !!
Just listen to the TV tabsirahs and tajzias, discussing many
ways, how to ” beg” money from a lover.
@Rafay
Speak in Urdu to Pakistanis hasn’t bad impact. Most of the heads of countries to their nationals in their own language. I think we should appriciate Pakistaniat.
Its sad to witness that even having undergone a thourough electoral process, we, Pakistanis, still have a lame duck as our Prime Minister. Do we really see any difference vetween this governement and the previous one?
The ONLY line in the survey results that is really important is the one with the number of people who voted for Yusuf Raza Gillani……
He has to be the single MOST UNPOPULAR or unpowerful Prime Minister in the world!
Could someone please tell the Prime Minister and many other Pakistani commentators that the word is “sovereignty”, not “sovereign-i-ty”?
Just want to be proud of him, not picking on him — his host Bush is worse in the way that he pronounces words – “ath-e-letes”; “nu-ciu-lear”, subliminimal, etc.
Thanks
@ 17.15 hrs. EST onTV
I hope you guys are listening to Pir Minister’s
addressing to USA Pakistanis in Urdu. He is an FC
educated. I just have to recite :
Inna-lila-he-wa-inna-elaihey rajeoon !!
Rafay Kashmiri