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.”
YLH: Welcome back. I actually support Imran Khan on many points. I like when he criticises sitting government; any government. That is why I have chosen to comment about him. He has more to offer than BB & NS combined. However he has to change his false elitist attitude and become more people oriented. He needs to walk more the streets of Mianwali where he was able to secure a lone ‘niazi’ seat for himself and do less drawing room politics in Lahore and Islamabad. He has to rise above ethnic and clan politics. He could do that by stop continuously reminding us about his ‘pathan’ roots. Did Jinnah ever talk about his own ethnicity? He knows the damage Taliban are doing in Pakistan. He must criticize them as well and stop taking their side. I invite you to read his book ‘Indus Journey’. There you will find the answer to your question.
PS: While I am not voting for Imran Khan… may I ask where he has harped about the “martial race”. Besides his constituency is Mianwali in Punjab not the tribal areas.
I have been selected for first interview in this. Lets see how it goes.
Nadeem Khan, what have you been smoking man! Have you even been reading any of these posts and what is written in them!
This is why I have stopped commenting here. People who are on the extreme (on religion and on politics) start writing nonsense and all balanced discussion is labeled. You may be better off going away with all these supposed bloggers who have gone away!
I think that under the present circumstances prevailing in the country, the question that should be asked is about the “Qualifications of our President”. We should be seriously searching for a sane man who has the capacity to respect the law of the land.
As for the Prime Minister, the last time I read about democracy, the Prime Minister of a country is the man or women that is appointed the Chief Executive based on the majority will of the people.
ATP has always had a hidden agenda in favour of Musharraf and that is why such topics are highlighted to move the momentum away from the real issues facing the country. That is why so many bloggers have moved away from this site.
Please have a little bit of shame!