Adil Najam
Given all the political maneuvering, convulsions, rearrangements, revelations and rearrangements of recent days and weeks, maybe it is time, once more, to request our readers to please grade the performance of the key figures in Pakistan politics. We had asked you to do so in October 2010 and in April 2010 and earlier in 2009 (here and here). We had presented the comparison between the first two results here. Now, as another tumultuous year in Pakistan politics draws to a close seems to be a good time to get a fourth data point.
Can you please grade for us the performance of the six 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 roles. In this 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. Once again, 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 ones), and I also realize that at some level this appeal may 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.
President Asif Ali Zardari – B – The position does not have any authority. And he has not misused his authority anyways. He has managed to keep a coalition government working and in office and fighting the Taliban. I would rate him well as a President of Pakistan.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani – F – The country shows a picture of a complete breakdown of the executive function of government and Parliament has not been able to undo stupid laws yet. Serious failure of the PM.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry – D – There is still massive corruption, misuse of power, lack of write of the law, and still no reduction in time of judicial cases. What has changed? How has this man insured that we get justice? Isnt that his job?
Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kiani – B – The fact that he hasnt conducted a coup is the reason he is getting the B. It would have been an A if Wikileaks had not gone insane. Also, since he will not stop supporting the Taliban he is not going a bang up job.
Opposition Leader Nawaf Sharif – C – A very toothless opposition that makes issues from time to time but keeps quiet. Lets the government fail due to the current economic, political and military crisis in the country.
The Media – F – Completely useless when it comes to showing the people what is actually going on to eventually lead the nation to social maturity and democracy. Epic Fail.
The way i see it is this :
Zardari – C (He is ceremonial and i think he is doing what he should do, unless he let others do their job.)
Gillani – F ( Country Administration is his job and he is failing)
Chaudhry – F (He created a big mess during Musharraf’s regime and here we are with the results today. and yet, he has not delivered anything in terms of Judicial structure)
Kayani – B (I think he is doing what he should do)
Sharif – F (Confused people, they like taking out long march on saving Aafia and executing Aasia but they are mum when it comes to inflation)
Media – F (Yet another corrupt institution of our country, Totally biased.)
Politics aside, I think more meaningful question would be: “How do you rate the performance of the following people in improving governance?”
My Answer to the questions would be
Zardari – D
Gillani – F (Because mainly its his responsibility)
Chaudhry – B
Kayani – C
Sharif – F (They are interested in point scoring rather than )
Media – C (They are interested more in politicizing the issues rather than highlighting the corruption)
Pakistani,s waiting for Allah,s action to save them from vultures
I think people are unfair in their grading and really grading on who they like or not rather than on performance.
I think Zardari is a C. At least he has been weak enough for some good things to happen.
Gillani is a B+ and will be the best remembered of this cast.
The CJ is a B because he has revived the judiciary.
Kiyani is a D because of recent news that he has been interfering more in politics than we thought.
Media to be is a D. Their own work has been mostly bad, but their influence is still good.
Nawaz I woudl actually give an Incomplete (I) for now.