Adil Najam
Back on August 18, 2008 – right before Gen. Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation – we conducted an ATP Poll asking our readers what Pakistan would look like after Musharraf. Now, two months after the event, it seems like a good time to repeat the question. So, here is our new ATP Poll. Do tell us what you think? We have tried to match the wording of the questions to those asked last time so that one can have better comparison.
The results of our previous poll on the subject, were interesting, but not surprising.
Partisans on each side dominated the discussion, and the numbers (these are respresentative of no greater truth than the readership of this blog and the passions of those on any side). Around a third of the respondents (34 percent) felt that things would generally become better; somewhat more (42 percent) felt things would generally get worse; some 22 percent felt that only faces will change and no other real change would materialize.
So, now that we have two months under our belt, what can we say? Or, and maybe, it is still too early to say anything? If so, we can always do this again in a few months and see how and if opinions change.
AAJ KAMRAN KHAN KE SATH ON CURRENT SITUATION
http://blip.tv/file/1378439/
Dear brothers and siters.
Who is abiding by law in pakistan?
We speak of Musharaf as unconstitutional, there are so many politicians who never went to college but still got ticket because they had false documents to prove they have degree.
Zardari is known for his cases, even france’s newspapers had headlines that Zardari demanded $20Mil in a defence deal with Pakistan. Our PrimeMinister was convicted.
The whole government today is unconstitutional as they have taken oath by an illegitimate chief justice.
So for God’s Sake, stop listening to the politicians and start thinking! We need a strong leader, doesnt matter if he comes constitutionaly or unconstitutionaly. We need someone who is not corrupt and always puts pakistan first.
Russians are proud of Putin, even tho they say it themselves that he does not believe in democracy but he created an Ideal in himself for the nation, he has made russia strong again.
“That is all what matters”, I dnt care about democracy. Democracy has always failed in Pakistan. China does not have democracy but has it failed?
We must have a functioning system, Musharaf introduced so many measures i.e. local governments, police reforms, city mayors etc to create a system. and you cannot deny that in History of pakistan we had the most fair elections. We have women actively taking part in various fields and we had free media who critcised Musharaf so much. So many jobs were created in Banking and Communications industry.
You must be like ‘Kufar of Makkah’ if you do not recognise those achievements. But look at todays so called democratic government, their president is a heir of previous president and Can GEO dare to show documentary on Zardari’s corruptions today? No Way!
If you want to see the sincerity and hardwork of current government then just see how much time and money does Shiri-Rehman spend on Makeup everyday.
@Aqil,
“Join him for what? A tanga party which has no chances of getting elected because our system is taylored not to let people like Mush, or others from the middle class make much headway unless they also gather a bunch of crooks from the same discredited feudal/industrialist class?”.
Aqil, I would disagree with you on this. While it is early to pass judgement on whether Mush was good or bad, or whether (or not) he had vision, one has to agree with YLH that the basic fault was with him being an unconstitutional dictator. To be honest with you, I would have gone along with him (as might have a majority of the nation) had he given up his army position, became a civilian politician, and entrusted his fate in the hands of his people in 2002 instead of going for the tried and tested fraudulent strategy of grabbing power through an unconstitutional referendum. Right there, he made it clear that he was not a man of principles (my view at least). I think that was the turning point and it was downhill for him ever since.
Be that as it may, history has given him another opportunity. He can join a politicial party, or form his own. He must submit to the law and face the consequences of his action, however the nation and and an independent judicial system may judge him, and pay his dues. It may take years, but if he really feels it is his destiny to serve his nation, then let him prove it. It is also not necesaary that his should turn out to be a tanga party; after all ZAB, a man I much detest, formed a political party and it has remained a very popular party for decades now.
I also think that Imran Khan would have had more luck if he had more political aptitude and had not treated his party, and his supporters, like a cricket team.
All this is discussion is moot until Pakistan can first work out of the current mess with militancy/insurgency and the GWOT.
Even the prosective financial meltdown is, in my view, a crisis of secondary importance.
Dear YHL:
“The problem ladies and gentlemen with Musharraf was NOT his vision
There was hope when musharaf was in power. My dad is in kuwait and I am working in UK. Rest of our family is in Pakistan. We sent money home regularly, bought some properties and invested money in Pakistan. But since early this year we are only sending whats needed, sold one of the properties and planning to bring rest of our family members to UK, reason is simple, the faces in parliment are hopeless. They have looted us before and will do it again. I still remember the troubles we went thru when NS froze all foreign currency accounts, so thank for the democracy but I am not going to let the same happen to my family again. People wanted democracy shall answer this,’the party in power has choosen a heir as party leader, is that democratic?’. Its a shame.