Adil Najam
Speaking of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani’s upcoming trip to USA and meeting with President George Bush a politically astute and well-connected friend in Pakistan said, “Its going to be a meeting of two lame ducks. George Bush is a lame duck because his tenure is about to end, and Yousuf Raza Gillani is a lame duck because his tenure never really started!”
For those who wish to see real democracy in Pakistan such comments instill a certain sadness. Yet, as a recent The News editorial highlighted, there is an increasing, palpable, and disturbing concern amongst Pakistanis about exactly who, if anyone, in in control of the government in Pakistan.
We thought maybe we should put exactly that question to our readers in this ATP Poll: Who do you think calls the shots? Who is really in-charge of Pakistan’s government today?
Of course, one could make this broader and more abstract by adding the Allah, Umreeka or Army responses. But our interest right now is on the daily governance of the country and who is calling the shots there.We woudl appreciate if the responses and comments also focus on that.
Its amazing to see that people in Pakistan are still suffering from MushPhobia.
Everyone knows who is the man is power,ugly zardari.
Yousaf Raza’s most important credential is his inability to speak up to AZ. Everyone knows it is a tussle between Mush, Bush and AZ. The US is trying to move away from Mush. See also recent NYT article on Kiyani. If yousaf is a non entity the real question remains, who is the next president, Sumro?
Adil
Shouldn’t option 4 be changed to ‘co-chairman’. Sherry will be blown away if she sees it.
I’m hoping my vote for Option 1 wins!!!
It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that Zardari under the dictation of the USA is running the show through PM and Rehman Malik, the PM is not being given freedom to govern.
Musharraf has made some very horrible mistakes in the past that have cost us tremendously but he or the COAS will never take any steps that will allow the NATO etc. to enter Pakistan or to invade it.
The placement of the ISI just before the US visit is the PPP gift to America for its loyalty. The army is watching and if any step is taken to corner the army and Pakistan’s sovereignty, we may even see a soft coup.
Our PM is loyal to Pakistan along with the COAS, Musharraf (he took buzdil steps but is not against Pakistan, the set up of the NCA etc. proves all that) and Imran and Sharif(if he stops acting like an idiot).
I totally agree with Bashar Siddique and Pakistani’s comment. All the people mentioned in the pole are nothing more that puppets. It would make more sense if we add another option: USA or foreign masters. Unfortunate but true.
Like Pakistani mentioned the highly incompetent people appointed on key posts. This is one of the reasons of high degree of incompetence and blunders made by this government in just 100 days. ‘na-laiq’. Three examples:
1. Hilarious announcements and claims made by Minister for Power and Water, Pervez Ashraf a month or so ago on load-shedding issue. Not a single thing he announced was accepted by any stakeholder or implemented.
2. CNG Prices blunder by Shah Mahmood Qureshi which cost us millions.
3. Yesterday’s notification of putting ISI under Interior Ministry control. ISI’s fundamental role is to keep an eye on external threats and why it was being put under Interior Ministry is beyond me.