Majority of Pakistanis want no army role in politics

[Neo]

Majority of Pakistanis want no army role in politics​

* Judiciary enjoys more public support than army: survey

WASHINGTON: As many as 62 percent of people believe that the Pakistan Army should have no role in politics, compared with 55 percent in June, according to a nationwide public opinion survey conducted by a Pakistani organisation on behalf of the United States International Republican Institute (IRI).

The public standing of the Pakistan Army has declined although it still enjoys wide respect. The poll, which was conducted in the first week of September, shows that 70 percent of the respondents look favourably upon the army down from the standard 80 percent in previous surveys conducted in September 2006 and March and June 2007.

Judiciary enjoys more support: The media, with an approval rating of 80 percent, is now Pakistan’s most admired institution. The standing of the judiciary rose from 51 percent in March to 77 percent in September, the first time any institution rated more favourably than the army. That, however, was before the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) resulted in reshuffling of the superior courts.

The government’s approval rating stood at a very poor 24 percent while police had the lowest approval rating at 13 percent. The opposition as a whole had a favourable rating of 46 percent. Among other significant findings in the poll, most Pakistanis (76 percent) wanted Gen Pervez Musharraf to resign as army chief, 83 percent oppose the declaration of emergency rule and 73 percent believe Pakistan is now headed in the wrong direction. The IRI poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percent.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[x_man]

I hope General Musharraf and his chums also read this article..

 

[roadrunner]

So what? You want the judiciary running Pakistan? You'll soon find a slump in their popularity too. Government takes a lot of critisicm.

 

[Interceptor]

So what? You want the judiciary running Pakistan? You'll soon find a slump in their popularity too. Government takes a lot of critisicm.

I read this statement twice and I still dont understand it, what are you on about.

Political parties participate in elections not the organs of the government.

 

[roadrunner]

Read it a third time? It's quite explanatory.

 

[Lahori paa jee]

Its good that people of Pakistan are waking up from this long sleep. Its late but never mind. Dictators must go and so should Musharaf

 

[mujahideen]

IF MUSHARRAF DOES GO DO WE HAVE AN HONEST, NATIONALISTIC, NON-CORRUPT POLITICIAN WAITING TO REPLACE HIM. I THINK NOT. SO WHO BETTER TO LEAD THIS NATION THEN THE ARMY. ATLEAST THEY ARE NOT CORRUPT. THE ARMY HAS ALWAYS COME IN BECAUSE THE PUBLIC WANTED THEM TO COME AND TAKEOVER FROM THESE CORRUPT POLITICIANS. THE ONLY REASON BB AND NS NOW WANT TO COME BACK IS BECAUSE PAKISTAN'S SAFE IS FULL OF MONEY.

 

[araz]

IF MUSHARRAF DOES GO DO WE HAVE AN HONEST, NATIONALISTIC, NON-CORRUPT POLITICIAN WAITING TO REPLACE HIM. I THINK NOT. SO WHO BETTER TO LEAD THIS NATION THEN THE ARMY. ATLEAST THEY ARE NOT CORRUPT. THE ARMY HAS ALWAYS COME IN BECAUSE THE PUBLIC WANTED THEM TO COME AND TAKEOVER FROM THESE CORRUPT POLITICIANS. THE ONLY REASON BB AND NS NOW WANT TO COME BACK IS BECAUSE PAKISTAN'S SAFE IS FULL OF MONEY.

Brother AsSalam oAlaikum.
The crux of the discussion here should not be based on personalities but on institutions.The problem with Pakistan is that Army is the most organized institution.So it may not be Musharraf-- it may be anyone of the Generals, the army will support them and ensure their survival to in turn ensure its vested interests.
The problem with an independant judiciary is that it can call institutions to account, being the upholders of the Law. Therefore, once again we have this saga with the superior courts of our beloved land.
As to Army /vs Democracy, the democratic setup works only if the instituions are well built and independant to take action and call people to account.
As any dictator by nature is not accccountable to anyone, it is inherently a flawed argument to support dictatorship as even with the best intentions absolute power would corrupt every body.
Our democracy is full of flaws because the institutions are not strong, ie judiciary and beaurocracy. In effect therefore every democrat once in power becomes a dictator which has repeatedly been seen in Pakistan.
There is therefore an urgent need to build up the institutions of judiciary and beaurocracy as independant functionaries of the state to stbilize the system to prevent it getting derailed every so often.
The million dollar question is why dont the democrats do it themselves? Simply because they dont want to be restricted in their looting and doing what ever they want by any one.
Therefore it is the responsibility of the people to push the democratic setup into building institutions.
this in my view is the only way we will ever have a stable set up that will work over a long period.
waSalam
Araz

 

[Majnun]

Brother AsSalam oAlaikum.
The crux of the discussion here should not be based on personalities but on institutions.The problem with Pakistan is that Army is the most organized institution.So it may not be Musharraf-- it may be anyone of the Generals, the army will support them and ensure their survival to in turn ensure its vested interests.
The problem with an independant judiciary is that it can call institutions to account, being the upholders of the Law. Therefore, once again we have this saga with the superior courts of our beloved land.
As to Army /vs Democracy, the democratic setup works only if the instituions are well built and independant to take action and call people to account.
As any dictator by nature is not accccountable to anyone, it is inherently a flawed argument to support dictatorship as even with the best intentions absolute power would corrupt every body.
Our democracy is full of flaws because the institutions are not strong, ie judiciary and beaurocracy. In effect therefore every democrat once in power becomes a dictator which has repeatedly been seen in Pakistan.
There is therefore an urgent need to build up the institutions of judiciary and beaurocracy as independant functionaries of the state to stbilize the system to prevent it getting derailed every so often.
The million dollar question is why dont the democrats do it themselves? Simply because they dont want to be restricted in their looting and doing what ever they want by any one.
Therefore it is the responsibility of the people to push the democratic setup into building institutions.
this in my view is the only way we will ever have a stable set up that will work over a long period.
waSalam
Araz

Was Yahya Khan an honest politician? He was just a soldier who someone had promoted too high. He played right into Bhutto's hands. Ayub Khan, Zia ul Haq, at different times, have both stepped in to save the country. But they had a choice. Pervez Musharraf was forced to become the president following Nawaz Sharif's attempted coup of the army, the last institution still intact from his corrupt politics. Pervez Musharraf was to Nawaz Sharif what Zia ul Haq was to Bhutto- someone the Prime Minister thought could be easily controlled but eventually overthrew them.
What could Musharraf do after Nawaz Sharif attempted to deliver Pakistan's Army Chief into India's hands right after the Kargil Conflict? When Ayub Khan took over the people welcomed it. When Zia took over the people welcomed it. But later on, with even the most minimal of freedoms, the people would go too far. And they became unpopular once they had helped the country like no one had done since 1951. Musharraf chose, in 1999, not to impose martial law, he granted freedom of the press, freedom of everything within the bounds of decency. Then it was taken too far. Geo went much too far. Musharraf is the most honest politician since 1951. In fact, since 1951, only the three generals, Ayub, Zia and Musharraf have improved Pakistan's state at all. Musharraf has given Pakistan time, vital time, to strengthen themselves. Its Army, Air Force and Navy are all getting stronger to the extent that Pakistan's military is second only to Turkey's and is equal to China. The Army improves the common man's lot and the people stab them in the back. The snake bites the hand that feeds it.
And isn't George Bush Commander in Chief of the American Army? All the US Presidents are. And yet they tell Musharraf to take off his uniform.
And Nawaz Sharif wanted Musharraf to court martial an editor of a newspaper in the 1990s.
With Musharraf gone, Pakistan will fall back.

 

[BATMAN]

IF MUSHARRAF DOES GO DO WE HAVE AN HONEST, NATIONALISTIC, NON-CORRUPT POLITICIAN WAITING TO REPLACE HIM. I THINK NOT. SO WHO BETTER TO LEAD THIS NATION THEN THE ARMY.

Unfortunately, the honest answer is not very optimistic so for this reason we have to appologise you for not answering!

 

[nadeem.raza100@gmail.com]

Offcourse, Mushy will soon get his reward for bad behaviour with nation

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Good governance sometimes involves making unpopular decisions.

The Awam cannot distinguish between the "leadership" that sets the direction for an institution, and the institution itself - says a lot about the veracity of such polls.

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

Offcourse, Mushy will soon get his reward for bad behaviour with nation

Dream On

Judiciary enjoys more public support than army: survey

Sorry NEo but the post by Washigton POST is not correct......... if you want to believe it believe it but its only a propaganda........ The situation in Pakistan seems very Ok in all cities........... 0.001 percent of Population against musharaf is nothing .......... Do a family survey your self and we all will come to the conclusion that people might not be to hapy with some things which are happening in Pakistan might be because they donot understand whats happening but they Still are with Musharaf........

This post is only ranting for Democracy required by people in Pakistan but it is only a conspiricy against Pakistan..........

 

[Mesha Ahmed]

so true i totaly agree

 

[LongLiveBritian]

In the United Kingdom, we have no army role in politics, maybe pakistanis are right.