ATP Poll: What Events from 2008 will define Pakistan in 2009?

Posted on December 28, 2008
Filed Under >Adil Najam, ATP Poll, Economy & Development, Foreign Relations, Law & Justice, Politics, Religion, Society
16 Comments
Total Views: 107189

Adil Najam and Owais Mughal

(Also see our second Year in Review Poll on “Predictions for 2009.” Image from Flickr by Mirjee.)

We had ended the year 2007 at ATP by calling it the “Year of Angst and Anger.” We had begun the year 2008 with a wishlist of seven prayers: Prayers for Human Dignity, for Living Livelihoods and Wellbeing, for Peace, for Tolerance, for Justice, for Democracy and for Jurat-i-Tehkik.

The year 2008 has been as angry and as angst-ridden as its predecesssor. Our prayers for 2009 remain the same, even more so. There is little one can add there.

Since past is prologue to the present, we wish to look beyond both past and present, into the future. Just as the demons of 2007 continued to haunt us in 2008, the events of 2008 will define Pakistan’s 2009 – for good or for bad. But which of the many – too many – momentous events of 2008 will have the greatest impact on defining what happens in Pakistan in 2009? That is the question for this ATP Poll, the first of two New Year’s Polls (the second one will follow soon).

We have selected ten key events of 2008 for you to choose from. But since some are related and the list is long, you can vote for multiple choices (we would recommend and suggest that you vote for around three only). The choices include:

Through your vote in this ATP Poll and through your comments, do plesae help us understand the implications of what has happened this year, and chart the contours of that which might happen next year.

(Also see our second Year in Review Poll on “Predictions for 2009“. Image from Flickr by Mirjee.)

16 responses to “ATP Poll: What Events from 2008 will define Pakistan in 2009?”

  1. Eidee Man says:

    An important factor missing from the list is the alliance between PPP, PML-N, ANP, and others that make up the current provincial and national governments. Already, we are hearing rumors that Nawaz Sharif is in contact with the Chaudries of the PML-Q; this can cause major shake-ups in the current setup.

  2. Jauhar says:

    More than anything else, acts of terrorism, militancy and military action in FATA will continue to define Pakistan’s 2009.

    A good article from BBC on this very subject:
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7750542.stm

  3. Aqil Sajjad says:

    Most of the points in the list are pretty relevant, though I think the election of Obama and the global financial crisis are less so.

    The impact of the gglobal financial crisis on Pakistan’s economy is not entirely negative. Where it may hurt us is a possible decline in our exports to American and european markets. But on the other side, the crash in the international oil prices has given Pakistan a substantial relief and the way stocks all over the world have fallen means that some investors who might otherwise have taken their money out of Pakistan to other markets probably won’t do so now.

    I think in light of the fall in the international oil prices, we could have kept the IMF away for a while longer.

  4. Watan Aziz says:

    Hardworking, honest and decent Pakistanis will have the greatest impact on Pakistan.

    At independence, there was a match factory and a few cotton ginning factories that formed the back bone of Pakistan’s industrial might. The GOP was functioning literally under a tin roof with pencils for pens. The initial salaries was paid by a handful of few generous men. There were no tax revenues. The rented car Jinnah rode to take the oath of office caught fire on the way back due to lack of maintenance. Worse, Jinnah

  5. ZAFAR says:

    If there was ever any doubt what the real continuing story will be, look at the breaking news today of the suicide attack in Swat at a polling booth:

    SWAT: The death toll in the Shalbandai suicide attack during the by-election polling being held at a Shalbandai school located in Boner area here mounted to over 30, including the children and police personnel.

    Sources said that in a by-election being held on Sunday a suicide bomber blew himself up at a polling station located in a school at a place called Shalbandai in Boner area, which initially killed 10 persons, while the death toll continued rising after retrieval of bodies from the debris and thus far the total has mounted to 33 dead.

    Secretary Election Commission said that polling has been suspended in the wake of suicide attack and the staff has been called back as a precautionary step.

    Hospital sources told that over 30 bodies were brought to the Dagar Hospital, while the injured have also been shifted to the hospital for medical aid. Relief and rescue operation still continued, while the officials fear death toll rising after completion of the work of clearing the debris.

    Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari and the interior minister, while strongly condemning the dastardly attack, expressed their deep sympathies on the precious loss of lives.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*