Pakistan: 38% Youth Prefer Sharia, 29% Democracy

[OrionHunter]

ISLAMABAD: On April 3, the British Council Pakistan launched the full report on the findings of a extensive research that it conducted on Youth and Democracy in Pakistan. Ahead of crucial elections marking the first democratic transition in Pakistan's history, more than 90% of the youth believe the country is heading in the wrong direction while nearly 40% think that Sharia or Islamic law would be the best political system, a survey said. In 2007, 50% of the youth thought Pakistan was heading in the wrong direction.

The 'Next Generation Goes to the Ballot Box' report, published on Wednesday, indicated deep pessimism among the youth, many of whom will be voting for the first time. While pessimism was a worrying trend in the last 'Pakistan: The Next Generation' report, it is 'significantly worse' in the new report.

A majority of respondents - 38 %- said Islamic Sharia would be the best system for Pakistan while 32 % backed military rule and only 29 % favoured democracy.

Asked about the most important events in their lives, most of the youths did not point to a positive event or collective achievement. Young people are losing hope in the democratic system. A majority of the surveyed youth believe that almost every aspect of society, economy and politics has been affected adversely and suffered ever since the 2008 election.

'38% of Pak youth prefer Sharia, 29% democracy' - The Times of India
Generation next goes to the polls: A survey | Pakistan | DAWN.COM

What do Pakistani PDF members think? Would the elections bring about change or will it be more of the same? Is there any statesman waiting in the wings that you can vote for and who can turn things around?

Indian elections are scheduled for 2014, but like Pakistan, the same old Toms Dicks and Harrys will contest. So the question is: Who will we vote for? Who will bring about change? Who will bell the cat?

Since politics has now become a family money-making business, hope for better governance and accountability seems to be fast receding.

 

[tranquilium]

As a Chinese, I think democracy is good, but how you implement that democracy is more important. For example, too many people are equating democracy with public election, which, in my opinion, is a waste of time and resource.
I am a Ph.D student in electrical engineering, so I can probably claim that I received more education than the general public, but I will be the first to admit that I don't know squat on how to run a country and I am certainly not gonna pretend I know how to pick the future leader of a nation.
To me, the selection of the leaders of a nation should be about his/her ability to rule and govern. The proof of that ability should be his/her track record and the judges of that selection process should be people that know how to run a country and have full information on the subject instead of the common Joe. To me democracy just mean that people, regardless of their birth status, have the chance to achieve their full potential.

 

[Matrixx]

What will happen to Pakistan election

 

[gambit]

To me, the selection of the leaders of a nation should be about his/her ability to rule and govern. The proof of that ability should be his/her track record and the judges of that selection process should be people that know how to run a country and have full information on the subject instead of the common Joe.

So you advocate an elite group of people to run the country.

 

[tranquilium]

So you advocate an elite group of people to run the country.

I advocate leaving the work to people are qualified to do it with the stipulation that it is possible for common folks to ascend to the ranks of the elites.

 

[Icewolf]

Doesn't say exactly which area the poll was taken

 

[ExtraOdinary]

Their country their rules, they should implement sharia asap as it is the will of the people.

 

[EzioAltaïr]

As a Chinese, I think democracy is good, but how you implement that democracy is more important. For example, too many people are equating democracy with public election, which, in my opinion, is a waste of time and resource.
I am a Ph.D student in electrical engineering, so I can probably claim that I received more education than the general public, but I will be the first to admit that I don't know squat on how to run a country and I am certainly not gonna pretend I know how to pick the future leader of a nation.
To me, the selection of the leaders of a nation should be about his/her ability to rule and govern. The proof of that ability should be his/her track record and the judges of that selection process should be people that know how to run a country and have full information on the subject instead of the common Joe. To me democracy just mean that people, regardless of their birth status, have the chance to achieve their full potential.

That only works in an ideal world, where you start off with a great leader, who dies a natural death, but makes a will passing on his throne to the next good leader, and so on.

But in real life, there are endless possibilities. After the guy dies, there can be a war of succession, and the "bad" guy wins. Or he earns enough public support to oust the "good" ruler. What do you do then? That guy is not gonna choose a nice ruler after him.

 

[Kompromat]

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