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.
Z A Bhutto being the pioneer of intolerance in politics did most harm to Pakistan. The person none other than Dr.Mubashir Hassan Sb can describe Bhutto. During my three hours long meeting with Meraj Muhammad Khan in 2004, I had come to know about his the real face of this great leader. More recently Dr Mubashir Hassan on Express TV exposed him further.
Very good poll question. And I must say I am happy to see the results thus far. the sins of Zia ul Haq are catching up with him after all.
Sazza jaza sabb yahin pay ho gi.
There are so many things wrong with this survey…Instead of Personalities, let’s talk broadly…How about Army, Judiciary, Politicians, Feudals, Business community and Bureaucracy
Ayub khan was probably the least evil of all of them and most gentelmen of all in the list. Though, still a dictator.
NS and BB wasted public trust and squandered opportunities after opportunities to do public good. Corrupt, ignorant and apathetic are the words that come to my mind.
ZAB and Zia were cut from the same cloth. Both of them hicjacked religion, nationalism and every thing else under the sun. Evil twins is how I would describe both. For me, both of them tie on the top.
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in order to appease MULLAH-MAFIA, submitted to their NON-SENSE demand in 1974. ZAB was hoping he would win Mullah community in the country. But Mullah-Mafia demands kept on increasing. ZAB again tried to appease them in 1977 but could never satisfy them. This cleared the way for Zia Ul Haq. Mullahs continued their demands from Zia Ul Haq. Today we see