LUMS survey on politics Educated youth seek mid-term elections
By Mansoor Malik
LAHORE, Nov 30: A majority of Pakistans educated youth is highly dissatisfied with the present leaders for their incompetence and wants to get rid of them.
A deep sense of pessimism about the national direction and dissatisfaction with the current crop of leaders has increased the demand for midterm elections among the youths, reveal findings of a survey Voices of Pakistan, conducted by the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in 15 universities of Karachi and Lahore.
Some 1,000 randomly selected students above 18 years of age participated in the survey that represented the dynamics of current political scenario of the country and voices the opinions of Pakistani youth on it.
The LUMS team comprising Kashif Ali Shaikh, Junaid bin Zubair, Arsalan Anwar, Muhammad Arsalan Yaseen and Zara Farooqui conducted the survey to assess the opinion of university students as youngsters are the key players in the current Pakistani politics.
One thing is for sure that the perceptions and the way Pakistani youth see the countrys politics and the governance is totally different from that of those who actually cast their votes, the surveyors find.
Asked whether Pakistan really needed a revolution to turn around its fate, around 40 per cent of the people replied in the affirmative. Around 56 per cent believe that for a country to once again move forward, people simply need a leader with some visionary and futuristic prospect. While others feel that a real leader would never come without revolution.
Apart from the few questions on the current government, the survey was focused on former president Pervez Musharraf, now considered a key player as a civilian in Pakistani politics as well as on international arena. He has launched his party and aspires to contest the election with a belief in his prowess to enlighten the countrys dark politics, offer hope to the despondent nation, boost the falling economy and ensure security for the citizens.
As for the question that who could be the choice for steering the country out of the crisis, the survey results showed that only 28 per cent of the people said Pakistan needed Musharraf and around 70 per cent argued that the country needed Imran Khan as its saviour.
The poll also suggested that the likely voters of former prime minister Nawaz Shaif were just around two per cent. Most of Musharrafs supporters were female students who cited the retired generals efforts for women emancipation and empowerment reason for their stance.
Around 75 per cent of the people stressed that Musharraf should be held for judicial trial for the atrocities he committed in the form of Martial Law, Kargil issue, military coup etc.
About Musharrafs vision of Enlightened Moderation and Moderate Islam, around 57 per cent of the youth were found in his favour with a claim: We dont need stern interpretation of Islam but rather need Moderate Islam and only it can take the country forward. About some questions on the present democratic government, more than 90 per cent of the students expressed dissatisfaction with the current leaders and their style of governance. Around 60 per cent of those surveyed feel that the country should go for midterm election so that Pakistan may get rid of these leaders.
Analysing the survey outcome, the LUMS team says though a majority of the youngsters do not want Musharraf as Pakistans leader, many acknowledge his leadership qualities. The vision of enlightened moderation and Moderate Islam is appreciated by the Pakistani youth, they say.
More than 95 per cent feel that he should take part in the political process of the country but at the same time 66 per cent of the people argue that Musharraf should undergo judicial trial. The problem that people seem to have with Musharraf is his misrule and blunders he committed like Lal Masjid issue, the judicial crisis, the Kargil episode, the military coup, they say. Still many believe he is a better option than the present lot.
A majority of those surveyed said the country was going in a wrong direction; almost nine out of every 10 people seem hopeless.
LUMS survey on politics Educated youth seek mid-term elections
Dawn ePaper - Article
