Pakistan Searches For a ‘Qualified’ Prime Minister: Any Suggestions?

Posted on November 30, 2007
Filed Under >Adil Najam, Politics, Society
93 Comments
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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?

DAWN ad searching for Prime Minister of Pakistan

(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.

93 responses to “Pakistan Searches For a ‘Qualified’ Prime Minister: Any Suggestions?”

  1. Meengla says:

    Imran Khan’s closet is not full of any ‘Sita White’ (I can pardon/ignore him for being a mere mortal in this case)–he just himself may be a closet Jihadi. About his ‘hospital’, yes, a very noble deed, indeed precipitated by the death of his mother, a personal tragedy, noble still, but with limited significance still.
    An act of political reform is a thousand times better than a thousand acts of charities. Case in point: Mr. Altaf Hussain organized events in the 80s where he would personally distribute clothes etc to the destitudes of Karachi. Perhaps a well meaning gesture–sort of like Imran Khan’s–but these kinds of events do not galvanize people across a nation to ask for their rights, to want change.
    I’d rather have unfulfilled promises of a political leader (Roti, Kapda aur Makan) to galvanize millions for generations to come than to have local symbols of ‘good deeds’ like Imran Khan or Altaf Hussain. By the way, this should be what we mean by ‘building institutions’ rather than culting personalities.
    I guess I should brace myself for some withering criticism.

  2. Ghalib says:

    This is a total waste of time! The decision will be made by Mush/COAS + US, will be implemented by ISI.

    Dont waste ur time! Just dont! this is a hotch potch of Political Army and some stooges i mean the politicians!

    In a federal democracy in Pakistan the powers are with ? LOL president! y dont they change the stupid system and make Presidential system! end of story! But hell no then how will Army step in? not even a single qualifies the job! its just Pak Fauf tu zinda baad that should have the honors! not a single corrupt person apprehended by Army, but yes many lines men and constables lost their posts! Justice begins form the bottom in Pakistan and charity begins from Awam!
    One thing next time ill see GHQ in islamabad! a serene city will be polluted by the army!

    U people are looking for PM’s lol! while people in pakistan are looking for food! work! and visas to runaway!

    Its Benezir with her COAS and Mush as a man from US! if she wont comply! assembly will be dissolved ! that wont happen! Mark my words! It has already been decided! Jusy watch some comedy sELECTION this year! after all its a sELECTION year!

  3. RJ says:

    Adil Bhai before asking this question shouldn’t Pakistan and Pakistanis search for these 3 things

    1. Common Sense
    2. Common Sense
    3. Common Sense

    A president or prime minister could only be as good as the people he/she is commanding. Or may be I am wrong; there could be a Messiah out though shall solve all our problem.

  4. Sidhas says:

    No doubt, Imran Khan will make a good leader. He has one thing lacking in all others that is integrity.

    unfortunately, his closet is filled with dead skeleton of “sita white”.

    For myself, I have resolved the issue and vote is on Imran’s side but question is would it hurt his electability.

  5. Wasiq says:

    The only qualification for the role of Prime Minister in a parliamnetary democracy is support of the people. Whoever gets the votes becomes PM.

    The notion that somehow PM is a job for which people can be recruited through an ad is seriously flawed.

    Pakistan’s educated middle class must look beyond its own culture of looking for an appropriate “naukari” based on “qualifications” and understand what politics is all about.

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