Adil Najam
We want to do a blogging experiment (which requires us to put all comments under moderation) and really let our readers write this post on Pakistan’s Elections 2008. What we are doing is not unique, but there is a twist to how we wan to do it.
First, here is the question we want you to answer for us:
Please tell us which political leader or party you support, or you think should be supported, in Pakistan’s elections 2008 and why?
Now, here are the rules – and we will implement these rules strictly, so please do read them carefully. All comments that meet these criteria will be published. Comments that do not meet these criteria will not.
Rule #1: It is not enough to say who you think should be supported, you need to tell us WHY you think they should be supported. In fact, getting to the WHY is the only real point to the exercise.
Rule #2: We understand the importance of comparison and competition in politics, but you are NOT allowed to say who should NOT be supported (or why they should not be supported). You can only tell us who should be supported and why. You can only tell us who you think is ‘good’ and what is ‘good’ about them. Any mention at all of who you think is ‘bad’ or what is ‘bad’ about others will disqualify the comment.
Rule #3. Please do not try to be too “clever.” We are sure you are all very bright and we also know that you are passionate about your preferences. All of that is very good. However, in our moderation we will err on the side of caution and delete any attempt at all to circumvent Rule #2. So, please read your comment carefully before submission to make sure that it cannot be inadvertently understood as an attempt to get around Rule #2.
Rule #4. This brings us to our last and final rule. All comments on this post are placed automatically in moderation and will appear only after a system moderator approves them as having met the rules laid out here. Over the next couple of days we will try to look at the moderation queue as often as we can to reduce the time that comments stay in moderation. However, do please expect some delays between your posting a comment and its appearing here. Also, if you feel that your comment has been moderated, you are welcome to repost the comment this time wording it in a way that meets all these rules, especially Rule #2. While commenters are welcome to post comments more than once – especially if they are building on someone else’s comment – we will remove multiple comments from the same person if the content is the same or very similar; please, do not try to spam us with such repeated comments.
If you think that your leader or party has not gotten a fair deal from us at ATP or the media or the electorate, here is your opportunity to make a case for them. You can make a case for anyone you want. You just cannot make a case against anyone.
I realize that we do often make choices based primarily on what or who we do not like, rather than who or what we like. There is nothing wrong per se with that, but for our purpose we are taking that option off the table.
Too many of us take too much please, too often, in being cynical. Therefore, I suspect that focusing on our positive energies might turn out to be rather difficult for some of our readers. I sincerely hope that I am wrong.
ppp 100%vote
@Sunny
I am really sorry but in my view whatever is happening in Bangladesh is just an eyewash, where the military, which is as much or even more power hungry than the Pakistan Army, would keep interfering in the political affairs one way or the other. The results would be the same. Complete entrenchment of the military in all spheres of life, stagnation of the political process, subservience of all organs of the state to the military high command, lesser respect for the constitution and as a result for the law, more benefits for the Armed Forces Personnel and their wards, more involvement of military in businesses, and what not. Political problems should be dealt with politically and not militarily.
I think one of the biggest fear from moderate Pakistanis is the corruption from who so ever will lead Pakistan. We have the same problem in Bangladesh and it’s been dealt with. I think after election the Pakistani people need to aggressively drive out the corrupt ministers and advisors.
Undoubtedly Asfandyar Wali Khan! Like his father Khan Abdul Wali Khan, he is a man of principles and has never supported the military! ANP has always believed in peaceful betterment of the Pukhtun Nation; a lesson taught by Bacha Khan (Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan).
As an Ahmadi, I must admit that ANP was the only party who abstained against the anti-ahmadiyya laws enacted by the Bhutto regime. ANP was right back then when they said “who is the parliament to determine who is allowed to call himself a muslim”. As we have seen after 30 years, the sunnis and shias are now at each other’s throats calling each other kafirs.
Like his father, Asfandyar Wali is well educated and despite being a Khan of Charsadda, he is a simple man. The ANP have never been associated with corruption either. Wali Khan spent many years in prison and Asfandyar and ANP will never seek to come to power through the back door with the assistance of the military or ISI.
Most importantly, the ANP is a SECULAR party like the PPP. For years, they were lead by Naseem Wali Khan, the wife of Wali Khan. ANP has never supported the mullas and in these difficult times when the Pukhtun nation is faced by ISI-backed taliban, ANP is the only true voice of the pukhtuns of pakistan.
Long live Pukhtunkhwa
Pakistan Zindabad
PTI and Imran would be my first choice. I have always admired Imran’s qualities but he won my vote by the bold stance he took after the May 12th incidents knowing very well that by doing so he was risking his own life.
But since he is not running, my choice would be PPP. No party and leadership has sacrificed more for democracy than PPP. It would be my way of paying back the people who separated BB from us.