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.
I would vote for PPP because:
1) Even with BB gone, the ‘arrow’ symbol and ZAB/BB’s photos can bring people from many parts of Pakistan under one tent, so to speak. Pakistan’s federation is at grave risk since BB’s death as she was ‘indisputably’ the chain that linked four provinces (with even significant representation in FATA, Northern Areas, and AJK, as seen by the mourning).
2) PPP is not all feudal. There are still diehard supporters from the middle class (Raza Rabbani, Aitzaz Ahsan, Wajid Shamul Hassan…) who have been around for decades and have proved their character through sacrifices and courage in face of various repressive rulers.
3) PPP has always stood for the rule of law and the supremacy of civilian rule. This I say even though BB came back to Pakistan in Oct. 2007 as result of the ‘deal’. But nowhere, at least in public, PPP was willing to sit with a president in uniform. In my opinion, after taking advantage of the ‘political space’ given to her, BB would join hands with Nawaz Sharif in the next parliament (and that’s why PML-N decided to contest elections at BB’s insistence) and restore judiciary, neutralize the powers of Musharraf.
4) PPP, ANP and MQM are the only 3 parties in Pakistan who are anti-establishment. While ANP never regained its prowess of the 70’s, both MQM and PPP have been hunted down most of the time. That is likely to continue in future.
5) A pertinent question to ask would be: How much today’s PPP different from that of the 70’s? Can it go back to its ideals which inspired millions upon millions of Pakistanis into its fold? I believe it can, especially if Fatima Bhutto leads. The politics of Left must stay alive in Pakistan and in the world at-large. In Pakistan a matured PPP can play that role in future.
Nawaz Sharif and You and I, will make Pakistan into a economically powerful nation of Asia. He has done a lot in short tenures, give him 5 years, and see the real development.
Nawaz Sharif’s PML(N)
1. Vast Experience in development and uplift of society.
2. Honest Leaders of PMLN have delivered, many times.
3. Infrastructure oriented Airports, Highways, Ports, etc.
4. Pays great attention to Health/Education.
5. Empowers the Big & Small Business of Pakistan.
6. Responsible for Industrial Development in Pakistan.
7. Believes in Economic Emancipation of people.
8. Improved standard of living for average Pakistani.
9. Civil rights, justice for all & reform oriented leadership.
10. Balanced Foreign Policy
Nawaz Sharif is the best choice for :
Patriotism, merit, sincere efforts , reliability,
perseverance, dynamism, productivism,
National priorities, Sacrifies, popular trust,
public reach, Pakistani ideology.
I shall upport him with full energy.
PML (N)
1. It is a middle of the road party. Not liberal and not religious either.
2. It has support in all the federating units of Pakistan.
3. Being conservative it is in a better position to negotiate and deal with extremists.
4. It will not follow the American agenda in dealing with extremists . It will give priority to what is in our own interest in dealing with extremist.
5. It is an experienced party which has ruled Pakistan before.
6. It must have learned from its past mistakes and is not likely to repeat them.
7. It stands for the restoration of sacked justices.
8. It is more likely to form a coalition with PPP in the formation of government at the centre and in all the provinces .
9. It is the only party which can rid us of dictatorship once for all.