Adil Najam
Back in August of 2006 one of the first ATP Polls we did was to ask our readers which recent leader they thought did the most good for Pakistan? We had structured the question carefully to focus on the good that these leaders did (all leaders do bad things as well as good, some more and some less). It is time to ask the same question again.
In 2006 we had not included Gen. Musharraf since he was still in power. This time including Gen. Musharraf but not Asif Zardari, who is in power now. So, what do you think?
Please do take the question serious and answer it in the spirit asked:
The Question: Focussing primarily on whatever ‘positives’ might have been achieved during their stint(s) in power, who, amongst the following, did the most ‘good’ for Pakistan?
Let me repeat the explanatory paragraph I had included in introducing the question the first time:
The key word is ‘achieved.’ We always have plenty of discussions about what leaders have and are doing wrong, but nearly never talk about what they did right. Interestingly, even when we are trying to make a case for someone, we tend to make it by explaining what is wrong with everyone else. After all, if everyone else is bad (and worse) then our guy must be good, at least in ccomparison and by default. The logic makes a perverse sort of sense but tends to take our political conversations towards confrontations (since they are based on ‘attacking’ the other rather than on ’supporting’ our own). So, here is an experiment to see if we are capable of talking differently about such things.
As before, for Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif consider the combined impact of two stints they each had in power. Do also please tell us what you think they did that was most important and lasting to Pakistan’s well-being as a nation. Again, we focus on achievement here not because the ‘bad’ that they did was not important (in each case it was) but to discipline our conversation towards thinking of things that, maybe, we should be doing more of.
@Waqas, atleast Musharaf wasn’t corrupt, did not cut 10%. Regarding money kept in banks; Some people have mentioned the universities and development projects established, media and telecom boomed, higher education was promoted during Musharaf’s era in this post. How easy and better it is to get an ID card or Passport now? So if you are saying these were achieved without government spending much money then it must be a very successful government policy and that is what a gov should do, make good policies.
Saving or building state reserves is very important for any economy. Let me jolt your memory when Musharaf came to power, state bank was strugling to pay civil services salaries, which means Nawaz Sharief had spent all but we hardly saw any GDP/Investment growth, foreign reserves were minimal, list me projects Nawaz gov did except Motorway? The point I am trying to make dear is, Gov’s job is to make good policy, only spend on Infrastructure and let the private sector do the rest.
One of the key things developed nations (i.e. Japan) does is lend money to other countries which in return becomes Investment as Gov loans & bonds are guaranteed and always increase in value, this is another thing Musharaf atempted which went un-noticed, Pakistan gave loans to three african countries which still have very good GDP. A brilliant idea in trial…
On the political side, Musharaf showed alot of courage in talks with india, let’s not forget his gesture to shake hands with Wajpai. And the Nazim system he introduced was such a good policy. Look at karachi, their Mayor has transformed it, there are CCTV cameras for security, water treatment plant etc. If you have something wrong near your house, for example you need a street light, you cannot go and wait outside the parliment to see a MPA (unless you have PR), you need a gov representative in your area who lives in your area, understand local needs and fears to be voted out if he does not serve well. It is such a shame the government is thinking of stoping this system, I think they are old fashioned and want things to work as they understand and not adobt new ideas or may be they are against the idea of impowering people.
A very interesting poll and equally interesting results. Well I voted for Bhutto despite my differences and since we are only counting goods. A question in my mind is how Benazir and Ayub got equal ( 15%). I think Ayub should have been much higher if we are comparing goods only. What goods we attribute to Benazir as PM? ( I am not discounting her struggle during and after Zia’s regime but i am questioning her performance as PM only)
@Waqqas
The economy during Musharraf’s time performed much much better than the basket-case it was during the 1990’s. There was load-shedding in 90’s, and load-shedding today. Your current “democratic” govt is cooperating even more with the US than Musharraf did.
Additionally the so-called independent judiciary is doing exactly what it has done in last 62 years, serve those in power and condemn commoners and those out of power.
I also think the only good thing Zia ul Haq did was to hang ZAB.
I think PERVEZ MUSHARRAF did the MOST GOOD for Pakistan.
Reason:
On January 12, 2002 he signed into law:
Declaring Kalima Shahada reciters as Kaffir, a CRIMINAL offense.
Pervez Musharraf tried to SUFFOCATE to death the TREE OF EVIL planted by Zulfiqar Ali Butto in 1974.
I think this one act of his will be cause of his salvation on the final day of judgment. InsAllah.
Mr. Usman Akram
I agree as far as selling one acre of land is concern but the seed bought form sale of one acre of land were not planted instead the money was just kept in banks and the government kept saying that they have huge foreign reserve, if these seed were planted i.e. new industrial unites were set up and exports were boosted we would be in better condition now. PM not only sold the land he also sold people for billions of dollars which he accepted in his book, and the current electricity crises is also because of him not even a single power unit was set up in his term, I remember when he came to power Pakistan was thinking of exporting electricity to India and every one knows the current situation. Look closely and see all he did was temporary fixes and now we all are paying for that. The assets that he sold to foreigners, those foreigner are earning form Pakistan and now sending even more foreign exchange home in form of dividends and interest, that