Frankly Ottoman lifestyle was nothing great by modern standards - it was a Taliban type regime... Attaturk came and flipped it wherever he could. The only thing I disagree with is the enforcement of this 'flipping' rather than sticking to just encouragement - and I think more than Attaturk, his successors enforced such ideals.
I think a middle path was needed, but who knows maybe some danda (stick) was required to change Turkey - See Pakistan we still have regressive tribal areas, and their lifestyles are nothing great by modern standards.
Ultimately Turkey today found the balance between western and Islamic life and we haven't. So who was ultimately better off?
Founding fathers are such, they do some revolutionary things for the country despite their personal flaws. You have to compare him with the Khalifah of that time, not with modern standards of freedom/equality.
Absolutely, middle path was exactly balance perfect tool for Pakistan. I am not saying Pakistan should be Khalifah or someone. I disagree with Mullahs even criticize them as well as West. Turkey is all about Ataturkism full doctrines, they get emotional, angry insulting, bad attitudes easy just like extremists did similar. Unfortunately intolerances on both sides.
I would still to say, it is hard to find tough middle path which is unsuccessful for Pakistan past years but we will change alot better in hundred years experiments from now.