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?
(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.”
For Waziristan mess, It does not matter who created it, ISI, CIA or Zia. The reality is that we have a mess in our backyard, and if we dont clean it, then others will come and clean it as they are effecting by this. Live with this harsh reality.
As for pak fauj symbol, “imaan taqwa jihaad fee sibeel allah”, may be we need to modify it. Giving once life for sake of your country and to save dignity of your future generation is a noble cause and more noble then greed of 70 virgins. The real sacrifice is when you give all you have for truth without caring about rewards in second life.
Nawas Sharif is not very smart person.When he was in Saudi Arabia he said over and over its not about me becoming PM. This is about saving country. If he really wants to save country for the sake of country why can’t he show some flexibility towards Mushraf?
I truly hope his brother can run. Many do not care for NS.
Well many ppl have suggested Imran Khan name in this forum. No doubt he has charisma and he has not been tested before. But I see two major issues with Imran Khan.
1. He seems to be symphatic with religious radicals elements.
2. Sometimes, he seems to be ethnic. To me ethinicity is bigger issue then corruption in a politician. Last thing we need is omnious shadow of an ethinic leader.
So I think, Imran Khan should clarify his position on above two issues.
@ Meengla
u wrote “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
None other than the Mighty Khan, Imran Khan, we should honour what he has done for the country so far no politician, No ngo has ever done anything like this. He has to be our PM if we want to survive, he has self respect the most important for human being.