Adil Najam
Can you please grade for us the performance of the five power centers in Pakistan: the President, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice, the Chief of Army, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Media. The focus, once again, is on how you think they have performed in these. That is, NOT what you think of Mr. Zardari in general, but what you think of his performance as President.
Back in June 2009 we had asked our readers to grade the performance of those at the helm of powers in Pakistan. Then in September 2009 we had asked you to grade the performance of the Pakistan media. (Earlier in September 2006, you had also graded Gen. Musharraf). It is now time to do a followup and see what people think now, especially after recent political developments.
In this latest installment of ATP Polls we would like to find out how you grade the performance of those holding key offices in Pakistan: President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kiani, and Opposition Leader Nawaf Sharif. This time we have included the Media (as a whole and as an institution) since they also influence Pakistan’s power balance.
I know I am repeating myself (both in this post and from the previous one), and I also realize that at some level this appeal will be ignored, but do let me say again that the purpose of this exercise is not to see whether you like these people or not, it is to see what how you think they have been performing in the offices they now hold. It is perfectly possible to not particularly like someone but come to the conclusion that they are doing a decent job in what they have been assigned to do, or vice versa. So, please, even though this is just a fun exercise, use your vote justly.
Do also comment on how you think they have been performing, and what aspects of their performance influenced your vote.
Some comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “gilani pir behtar hai kuin k sab hutay huhay b chup hai fouj jo pehlay mulk bachanay ati the aur apni badnami karti thee is cheez say fouj ko dur rakha hua hai gilani nay.”
– “President: failing
Prime minister: bad
Chief Justice: good
Media: average
Army chief: bad”
– “aammm……government iz goin gd.Army Chief is like supporting ths civil gov.bt C.J…ammm i dont feel like our courts r free.so vry bad to mr. C.J
media……..FUNNY!”
– “president = Below avg
Prime minister= bag full of promises never intended to be full filled hence bad.
chiefe justice = Okay enuf,
and Army heads = very goood”
– “Government excellent in corruption.
Army killing civilions.
C.J. he is nyc man but courts can do more.
Media is only criticizing.
Nawaz Sharif simply sux.”
– “awam also sux agar ache tara socho tu… bat kartay hain iqbal ke khudi ke aur batain na umeedi ke”
– “Poor democracy z far better than best dictatership……..
We always support DEMOCRACY”
By the way, for the same reason I cannot imagine how anyone can give Zardari an A either.
I gave all of the six an B or a C, because at this point I think all are playing a reasonably good role in Pakistan. the President and Prime Minister are keeping the govt stable, the opposition is playing a positive role, the military is fighting a good war and staying out of politics and the press is being a watchdog. In fact, all of them are doing the right thing.
I do wonder if people voting actually realize that they are voting for how they think these people did the job they are in and not whether they like them or not.
I cannot imagine any logical reason why anyone would say the Zardari is failing as a President. He is certainly not getting an A but Failing seems to indicate that you do not know what you are voting on.
After the 18th amendment fever is over,We will soon see the real face of our politicians,,,,,just wait for few weeks,the’REAL KHADMAN,E,QUAM” will be seen in real “Maula Jat”action.
Their is a huge difference between performance evaluation of ‘leaders’ and evaluation of ‘power centers’. The media is a power center, but not a leader. This distinction is important and has to be made. None of the others qualify as leaders in any way though Kayani may be classified as a leader because he leads the army and is also a power center. The CJ is not a leader, but qualifies as a power center. Also, it is important to highlight that there are power centers that matter and those that do not matter. Obviously, power centers and leaders are not the same. Some qualify as both, but wield no real power. Some are leaders, but not a power center and also wield power and others dont. So as you can see this can be a complicated matter. Should any of them get a failing grade. Perhaps not.