Adil Najam
Its time to take stock of the year 2006. Its also time for another ATP Poll.
We did think of doing something around a ‘Person of the Year’ theme and I even thought of a few possible candidates (here, here and here). But that seemed too obvious, and more likely to turn into a popularity contest rather than a thought-provoking discussion.
Instead, we want to focus on the following question:
WHICH EVENTS AND TRENDS FROM 2006 ARE MOST LIKELY TO LEAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON PAKISTAN POLITICS AND SOCIETY?
Our desire is to have the focus not just on what has happened in 2006, but in the implication of what happened in 2006 on the FUTURE of Pakistan. The emphasis is clearly on the future, and we hope to have a good discussion on why, which trend will impact the future of Pakistan, how.
(An explanation of what we mean by each choice is given below; because of a cache plug-in your vote may not appear in the results immediately.)
Unlike previous ATP Polls (on women rights, Gen. Musharraf’s future, past leaders, and Gen. Musharraf’s performance), the challenge here is not in phrasing the question but in figuring out possible options for the answer. Since we do not have the technological ability to allow readers to add their own options, we have narrowed down the list to the following ten key events and event-related trends. We are sure other things that could have been added to this, but without wanting to make this too long, too unwieldy or too broad, we have decided upon the following possible events and trends as answer choices. (Some of are very directly related to a specific event but signifying broader underlying trends; others are broader trends that relate to a collectivity of multiple smaller events.)
Movement on Pakistan-India relations (also here and here), especially including recent moves by Pakistan on Kashmir and related improvements in Pakistan-India relations.
Hiccups in Pakistan-USA relations (also here), including Pres. Bush’s visit to India and Pakistan and Gen. Musharraf’s visit to USA.
Frictions in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, including the re-rise of Taliban.
The killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti (also here) and the continuing unrest and volatility in Balochistan.
Signs of an impending break-up of the Mutihadda Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), including over the resignation issue.
Positive economic trends, including rise of foreign investments in Pakistan (including for high visibility projects like the Centaurus), strength in some service sectors like telecommunication and banking, etc.
Negative economic trends, including rise in cost of living, inflationary pressures, stock-market controversies, etc.
Continuation of sectarianism and sectarian violence, including various attacks during first part of the year.
The passage of the Womens’ Rights Bill (also, here and here) and related events signifying a change in role of women in society (here, here and here).
Changes being brought into education curriculum and other educational reform, including how other communities and religions are portrayed within historical and other texts.
If you do want to influence the results, please, by all means ask your friends to also vote. Feel welcome to use the ‘Email’ button at the very top to send to your friends.
Voting is anonymous; as it should be. This is, of course, not be a very scientific poll, but it will at least give us a sense of what this community � the ATP cohort � thinks. Do vote, but please vote only once (even if you are smart enough to beat the system somehow).
The optimist in me votes for the impending breakup of the MMA, which will accelerate social development in Pakistan and catalyze some much needeed and welcome changes.
However, the pessimist part of me votes for friction with Afghanistan and hiccups in relations with the US, which could have a very dangerous and destabilizing influence on the country
Two points on the structure, related to the above.
1. The list was originally ordered by current votes (both in the question and the answer). I have changed it so it is now in the original order (international relations, domestic politics, social policy) in both the statement of the question and the answer. This makes reading the answers slightly more difficult, but you are right it makes the question less ‘leading’.
2. I did think o fthe ‘uniform’ issue immeidately and was going to put an option on ‘democractic impetus’ (including the uniform debate, Charter of Democracy, Open Letters, etc.). Eventually decided against it since it seemed that this MAY be a story of 2007 but is not yet a story of 2006. At least that was my sense and reasoning.
Salamalikum,
Eidee Man: I agree that Ishratul Ibad is a thug now, and he was an APMSO thug at DOW then. I know MQM quite well, better than most. Although my immediate family was never very supportive of MQM, many relatives were quite involved. So, I know a lot of bad and good about MQM. I also am from the largest unit sector (188) in Karachi and have seen a lot of thug activities. But, I’ve to say that this thing you’re talking about MQM going door-to-door and registering people sounds like a false rumor. MQM doesn’t need to force anyone in Karachi. It can carry Karachi in elections any day. The only place this rumor can be true is Landhi, Faisal Colony/Malir area because of MQM Haqiqi but even then I think this is completely false news because Haqiqi is almost finished. When did you last hear about Afhaq Ahmed and Aamir Khan in the news?
I voted for haqooq-e-niswaan bill but also wanted to vote for curriculum change. Both are just the beginning of erasing the Islamic identity of this country. They are the two most damaging things that will impact Pakistan significantly. This will lead to a generation that is ignorant of Islamic rules, an intellectually wandering generation because it would’ve lost its identity. Referring to Adil Najam’s post about curriculum changes in The Daily News, the students will be taught a curriculum that would fit the hippies of ’60s and ’70s in the US.
The list fairly covers all the major issues, but it would be good idea to randomize the list on each visit. You can see the effect of not randomizing the options from the results.
cheers,
Adil bhai I think you forgot a very main factor “Musharraf’s Uniform” which he promised to “take off” in 2007. I think the uniform factor will play an Important role. We might see new allies due to this uniform factor because as we know .The general will not getrid of his uniform because Agar molvi masjid se nahi nikalta[Ref:Dr sher Afgan] tu Dictator uniform nahi chorta jab tak k wo mar na jaye ya maar na dia jayee.
As far as your link about cource. from the link it sounds great and very appropiate but did they bother to reveal the SOURCE of this syllabus? I mean our “Educated” Minister Mr Qazi who don’t even know # of Siparys in Quran, once declared that Islam would be in Islamiat only so question is which religion or model will be followed to teach such lessons? because wht I see that now west is consulting Quran and Islam for moral lessons and scientific research so what would be left for policy makers to teach our kids. This is something which I think will never be answered by concerned people because they dont know themselves what are they going to implement. They are doing what they are being ordered by others. Intresting stuff!