Adil Najam
The obvious and logical followup to our last ATP Poll is to now ask the question: which of our leaders did the most harm to Pakistan? A number of readers suggested, and we agree, that such a poll should be conducted. We ask only that you please respond to the question with the same care with which it has been structured.
As we had done in the last poll, we have structured the question carefully to focus only the harm that these leaders might have caused (all leaders do bad things as well as good, some more and some less).
Please focus on the negative actions these leaders were themselves responsible for, and not as much on things that might have been out of their own control.
The Question: Focusing primarily on what you consider ‘negative’ actions taken by them during their stint(s) in power, who, amongst the following, do you think did the most ‘harm’ to Pakistan?
As others have suggested, it is not at all necessary that those who got the most votes for doing ‘good’ will automatically get least votes for doing ‘harm.’ Since we have been asking people to focus only on one or the other, it is not entirely impossible that the same person is deemed to have done a lot of good as well as a lot of harm; albeit by a different set of voters – in a society as divided as Pakistan this is not just possible, but even likely.
As in the last poll, the current leadership is not included (although we did conduct a poll grading them recently) and only those whose tenure is now behind us are included, from Ayub Khan onwards. 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 which of their actions you think had the most harmful and lasting impacts on Pakistan’s well-being as a nation.
We eagerly await your views on this, in the poll as well as in the comments.
Zia has brainwashed whole country and people like Ziad Hamid, Imran Khan, Nawaz sharif and Hamid mir are reflection of zia brainwashing.
Let me give you simple example. His islamic council removed chapter on “evolution of life” from 9th grade biology with one paragraph introduction. Same thing for “big bang”.
He is reposponsible not just for Jihadist but also for AK-47 and drugs in Pakistan.
Zia undoubtedly was the the worst leader we have ever had, it is because of his failed policies that we are faced with the horrors of drugs and illegal arms. His so called moves for islamization were a sham as he himself alway was But in the larger picture I think the biggest culprit is the Pakistan Army for the kind of misrule they have effected over the country for so long. They have been userpers of power, they fought and lost all the wars we have seen and in their wake, have left nothing but destruction and hopelessness for the masses.
Truly, they have no right to rule, they should stay where they belong, the barracks.
@Haroon, Media is so bias, Every host starts their show with conclusions and impose their views rather to let the debate go on and let people decide.
Yesterday a host asked Barrister Saif why Musharaf isn’t in Pakistan to defend his case and he replied ‘let the FIR move to courts, case will then be established and courts will ask him to make representation in which case he or his lawyers will present their case’. This is called Media propoganda or probably we have illetrate hosts who do not even have etticates.
@Usman : It could be Pak military failure that it wasnt able to keep supply line with time? (considering the geological factors and enemy military buildup later on). I think it was the lost(Pak Army suffered) made them stopped the war. Nawaz was powerless in front of his stubborn Military chief.
Media has a role to play here.Let the people know the real cons/pros of every Pakistani politicians. So ppl can decide correctly who to vote in Elections as well as in polls like this. Noawadys majority of the decisions are made on rumors.
Why are we forgetting, what Nawaz Sharif did about Kargil, when Pak Army was fighting over there, Supply was stopped on directions of US. Many personnels died cuz of Sharif