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.”
I find the ad quite sexist as it has completely ignored/excluded women from being nominated for the position. After all why not a woman?
Mr. Mohammad Sadiq, former Deputy Chief of Mission of the Pakistan Embassy in Washington D.C. Though a member of the foreign service, Mr. Sadiq was highly well-spoken on all issues of politics, social issues and diplomacy. Was organized and innovative, with a sincere belief in the power and importance of Pakistani youth. He implemented many new initiatives relating to lobbying, Pakistani-American political mobilizations and had a balanced appreciation for Arts and Culture. Neither a conservative or liberal, Mr. Sadiq walked a balance path of moderation – making him likable by many.
His modestly and humility during his prestigious post in D.C. showed that he was able to handle the temptations of power and prestige well, and he oft spoke out against corruption.
Here we go again….
Enjoy this ad as a comedy in an ongoing circus and do not get too serious about it. Afterall this is a country of 160 million very competent leaders… Who dares leading the leaders?
One thing is for sure. Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto have proven themselves as the worst prime ministers in the history of Pakistan. We had very high hopes about Imran Khan when he jumped into politics and raised a very loud voice against corruption in the government Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto. But he truned out to be an other stooge of mullahs.
Adil:
Pakistan is full of qualified people ready for and capable of taking up the job. Trouble is that they do not come from the ‘Political Houses’ of Pakistan. Choudhari Brothers, Sharif Brothers, Bhutto Dynasty, Mullah Brigade, Nawabs, Sardars and Mirs; this is our lot from where our next Prime Minister is going to come from and that is a very depressing reality. Our people will vote for who ever gives them ride to the poling station and one days worth of wages. I hear folks here mentioning Imran Khan. Does he have the right temperament for the job? With his false notion of his own racial superiority over others, could he be a ‘peoples’ leader? His family has been living in Punjab for centuries yet he considers himself a ‘pathan’ first and anything else later. Do we need more ‘ethnic’ leaders? Hell if he is a ‘pathan’ then I am king of Persia. I think we could use services of an other man like ‘short-cut’ Shoukat. Men who could be easily replaced with every round of elections. Dispensable utility men. Not scions of a ‘house of lords’ who will never leave but continue to cast their dark shadows generation after generation.