Pakistan: Now or Never?

Perspectives on Pakistan

The most destructive of Pakistan’s

leaders
AUG 21, 2009 08:48 EDT
BENAZIR BHUTTO | PAKISTAN | PERVEZ MUSHARRAF
If India is agonising over a book that seeks to demolish the conventional view that
Muslim leaders forced the division of the subcontinent in 1947, across the border some
Pakistanis are attempting a bit of introspection too.
The popular All Things Pakistan blog is running a poll this week asking readers a single
question: which leader did the most harm to the country in the past 60 years, not
counting the current administration which came into office only this year after elections
in February.

It’s a small poll by the very nature of the medium,

confined to people who visit the blog and so not very
representative or even very professional by the
standards of surveys. But it offers a fleeting glimpse
of a nation wrestling with multiple challenges. Even the
question itself tells you something about the prevailing
mood.
Quick results : General Zia-ul-Haq, the military dictator
who turned Pakistan into a frontline state against the
Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, comes out as the
leader who’s done the most damage to the country
with 42 percent of those polled picking him.
Does that reflect a belief that Zia’s self-declared
Islamicisation policies created a “culture of jihad” within
Pakistan which threatens to consume it now ?
General Pervez Musharraf is the leader next seen to
have inflicted the most damage, with 21 percent
choosing him, followed by Field Marshal Ayub Khan at
12 percent.
Slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto comes out on
top with only 5 percent saying she had the hurt the
country, even better than her father and also former
Prime Minister Zulfiqar Bhutto, with 10 percent blaming
him most for the country’s ills.
A month ago, All Things Pakistan conducted another poll, this time asking readers :
Who did the most good?. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto topped that poll with 36 percent support
followed by Musharraf at 23 percent. It may not be as contradictory as it seems , it
probably points to the strong feelings that Musharraf evokes on either side of the
debate.
{Photographs of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and portraits of General Zia-ul-Haq]
21 COMMENTS SO FAR | Comments RSS
Aug 21, 2009
9:21 am EDT
Can we just get this blog over and done with and give each of them an equal share of the
blame.
What exactly was Benazir Bhutto’s tangible, contribution to Pakistan?
I remember her father stated the racist comment to the East Pakistanis, “Udhr tum, ider
hum.”
Posted by bulletfish | Report as abusive

Aug 21, 2009

12:01 pm EDT
Although, it is somewhat heartening to see Pakistanis do some much needed
introspection, I wonder what would be the results of the poll, if it included international
leaders like Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Reagan, Nixon, Mujibur Rehman, Brezhnev etc. If Zia
ul Haq or another Pakistani leader is leading in such a poll, that would indeed be an
encouraging sign for Pakistan as it would mean that Pakistanis are finally ready to take
responsibility for their actions & deeds.
Anyways, going back to this poll, Zia ul Haq certainly deserves the top honors as he is
mainly responsible for the transformation of Pakistan, from a largely moderate &
progressive country that it used to be to the current radicalized, regressive & failed state,
that it has become.
Posted by Mortal | Report as abusive

Aug 21, 2009

12:46 pm EDT
Sanjeev,
All of Pakistan’s leaders some things in common. They all LIE, steal, cheat, promoted
institutionalized hatred of India, religious supremacy over others, hatred of the west and
Israel. Any tool of national unity used by Pakistan’s leaders, always had attached to it,
negative, retrograde hateful connotations, with a religious overtone.
Pakistan will NEVER have leaders which are capable of managing Pakistan as a proper
functioning democracy, which enables all types of peoples and minorities to achieve their
potential as equal productive human beings with a human moral core. This perhaps a
greater symptom of Pakistani society itself.
Most people may disagree here but, he is not a perfect person, but I think that Mr.
Zardari or his young Bilawal Bhutto has the potential to be the best Pakistani leader, if
the Pak Army steps down and gives him entire power of Pakistan, as commander in
Chief of Pakistan. The President of a country, should be the commander in chief of the
armed forces of that country.
Till now the best leader that Pakistan has had is Imran Khan, leader of Cricket.
Posted by Global Watcher | Report as abusive

Aug 21, 2009

3:48 pm EDT
What is this ? Scalping topics from another blog ? Tsk tsk.
Posted by Aamir Ali | Report as abusive

Aug 21, 2009

4:22 pm EDT
India need not have to keep agonizing about anyone breaking Pakistan away. India is
still a political concept. Culturally India is a chaos. Linguistically a disaster. It should not
have been a country at all. This is another cancer the British left for the world to endure
never ending pain. India still needs to be broken into at least 10 different countries or
maybe more.
Now Pakistan’s main problem is not religion. Everyone with one look will say it is religion.
No their problem is lack of understanding in governing. I will blame Zia-ul-Haq for making
it worse by bringing the religious groups into Pakistan. He himself was a Jamat-E-Islami
supporter. The spin off or Pakistani version of Wahhabism, that bears the evil of all chaos
the religion of Islam now facing. Wahhabism is pure evil covered with manipulated verses
from Quran and sayings of the prophet. You want clean up that part of the world there is
only one way, eradicate the Wahhabis. How do you do that? It is easy, just remove the
monarchies of the middle east. They provide the funding for the growth of Wahhabism.
Posted by Looter | Report as abusive

Aug 21, 2009

8:30 pm EDT
Foreget the past, take a look at the future leadership; it’s dangerously foolish
http://thetrajectory.com/blogs/?p=780
Posted by thetrajectory | Report as abusive

Aug 22, 2009

1:36 am EDT
Pakistani leaders have sold Pakistan in pieces to China, Saudi, USA, Mullahs and rest to
Taliban. It’s hard to know which force is dominant now as all are hiding behind the facade
of democracy.
When sectarian civil war unmasks this facade, we’ll find out which force is dominant and
which leader made that happen!
Posted by Patrick | Report as abusive

Aug 22, 2009

3:22 am EDT
Every nation gets the leaders it deserves
Posted by indian1127 | Report as abusive

Aug 22, 2009

6:54 pm EDT
Sanjeev and thetrajectory:
I agree with “thetrajectory”. While scoring the previous leaders is of academic value,
looking at the future leaders has practical utlility. I have no idea bout the budding leaders
other than the obvious. Benazir Bhutto daughters were hopeless based on 2 minute
speech in the link. Pakistan, like any other country, needs Desi leaders who breathe the
same air as a regular Pakistani.
In any case get ready for the leaders schooled in post-Zia era. A kid born in around 1980,
the time when Zia ul-Haq incorporated distorted history is nearly 30Yr old today. So it is
the beginning of the new batch of leaders. Survival of the fittest will rule out any
potentially genuine politican if any.
Posted by rajeev | Report as abusive

Aug 22, 2009

9:16 pm EDT
Politically it sold itself to usa longtime back when it started patronizing the taliban.
Economically it is selling itself to gcc countries by giving the fertile lands for 1000 year
lease. However the spoils of the richness are to the personal account of the rich and they
have ready visa / citizenship with any western country like musharaf sitting in UK
Posted by satwa gunam | Report as abusive

Aug 23, 2009

10:43 am EDT
Sanjeev,
Most important point is not who did the most damage to Pakistan , but who did not
damage Pakistan? During ancient times in India, there was a most popular saying ,
which goes like this : ” Yatha Raja , Yatha Paraja” ( Like the king, like the people ) the
times have changed , in the democratic set up, it has become : ” Yatha Praja, Yatha Raja
” (Like the people, like the king ) . People of Pakistan deserved no better . Right from
Ayub Khan, down to Zardari( former Mr 5%) has done their best to damage Pakistan and
its people, firstly by converting it into a theocratic state, demonising India as an evil .
Posted by Manish | Report as abusive

Aug 23, 2009

3:11 pm EDT
Bad leaders are in all countries. Not just Pakistan. India had Indira Gandhi and Sanjay
Gandhi, who would have destroyed the country, had they continued any longer. And
there were(are) many local chieftains who can blend into an Afghan war lord attire with
minimal adjustment. The US has had some very bad leaders – Nixon, GW Bush for
example. In the case of Pakistan, bad leadership coincided with global events that
changed their focus on short term gains versus long term implications. And the India-
centric mindset added more to it. I think Pakistanis are realizing this now and I can see a
change in their attitude. The survey run to elect their worst leader itself is a sign of that
change. Attitudes can destroy societies. Leaders emerge from people and if the public
mindset is not progressive, then the leaders will reflect that attitude. Pakistanis should
realize that India really is not their enemy and focus on themselves. That way, their
leaders will stay focused on national progress on all fronts. They need to look at their
superiority complex and work on trying to eliminate it. It is this underlying complex that
has led them to their current state. They have let external forces exploit this superiority
complex in them and this can lead to their utter destruction. Their infrastructure can still
breed bad and dangerous leaders who would look at their self interests. There is nothing
in the system to check them and their actions. I’d say their military itself is made up of
bad leadership that has worked constantly for its own survival and maintain its grip on
power. It is their military that has kept the anti-India flame alive all these years to improve
its hold on power. Pakistan will have good leaders emerge only if they can clip the wings
of their military and keep it confined to the barracks. And time is running out for them.
Posted by Mauryan | Report as abusive

Aug 23, 2009

4:41 pm EDT
Manish
it should read yatha raja tatha praja
as is the king so are the people
and viceversa
cheers
Posted by azad | Report as abusive

Aug 25, 2009

10:13 am EDT
Actually Pakistan is a failed state being propped up by international aid.I think it is time
for:
1.Balochistan to be completely independant.
2.Pashtoon lands given to afghanistan with peshwar.
3.Sindh and Punjab to form a loose confederation with substantial autonomy to Sindh
4.Kashmir to be merged with India with the punjabis to be deported to Punjab.
Then there will be peace and prosperity in the region.
Posted by Shobhit | Report as abusive

Aug 26, 2009

9:18 am EDT
It is actions and inactions that make or break leaders.
I would love to see how Zardari and Giliani deal with Pakistani Taliban’s new leader:
Hakimullah Mehsud. The man who staged the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team and
bomboing of hotels in Pakistan.
Posted by bulletfish | Report as abusive

Aug 30, 2009

8:54 am EDT
Azad,
Thanks for correcting me . People of Pakistan chose a corrupt and bankrupt leadership
who survived on an imaginary threat from India . Now where it ends up: Pakistan is a
failed state, and India is a bubbling democracy, economic powerhouse.
Posted by Manish | Report as abusive

Sep 1, 2009
11:23 am EDT
Shobit, you said:
“Actually Pakistan is a failed state being propped up by international aid.I think it is time
for:
1.Balochistan to be completely independant.
2.Pashtoon lands given to afghanistan with peshwar.
3.Sindh and Punjab to form a loose confederation with substantial autonomy to Sindh
4.Kashmir to be merged with India with the punjabis to be deported to Punjab.
Then there will be peace and prosperity in the region.
- Posted by Shobhit ”
–>This should be brokered by a UN resolution to also include complete denuclearization
and demilitarization and bring the money and lost potential back into the pockets of the
average Pakistani. Pakistan should be allowed to keep its statehood, if it surrenderst he
nukes and demilitarizes to lower levels. It is much cheaper for the U.S. to do this, than
keep on giving billions of dollars of AID and IMF money, and the Paks just keep blowing
it on more weapons, maintaining proxy armies and terrorism camps against India and the
world and also putting dollars it into their pocket and maintaining enmity and agression
against India.
It almost seems, that Pakistan is just itching and die-ing to start a war at any cost with
India, the pace at which they are stockpiling nukes and all types of weapons despite the
fact that their own people are thirsty and starving and the country is in economic
shambles.
If the U.S. does not discipline and school Pakistan now, it will not be able the control the
level of terrorism that will one day emanate from Pakistan, unto the world.
Posted by Global Watcher | Report as abusive

Sep 3, 2009
5:31 pm EDT
Lotter says:
“India need not have to keep agonizing about anyone breaking Pakistan away. India is
still a political concept. Culturally India is a chaos. Linguistically a disaster. It should not
have been a country at all. This is another cancer the British left for the world to endure
never ending pain. India still needs to be broken into at least 10 different countries or
maybe more.”
–>That was an extremely ignorant and foolish comment. India is chaotic, but it functions
and does it mostly well. Have you tried driving in Delhi without getting in a car accident?
Well most people there do and to do that requires extremely skill and mental acuity, of
which India has in abundance. Most westerners are too overwhelmed and trying to figure
out what appears to be chaos, is actually a multi-level, complex orchestration of
democracy, a productive society, which is inclusive, secular and plural, with rule of law
and the largest democracy in the world.
If you hate India and indians so much, feel free to get rid of your PC computer, as the
USB connections on your PC, were designed by an Indian…Sun Microsystems,…an
Indian…I can keep going on here, but you may feel overwhelmed at how much Indians
have contributed(U.S. Cruise Missiles), quietly, steadily and humbly to growth and
progress in all sectors of the western world in the smallest and largest things that you
enjoy on a daily basis. Also, India is the largest supplier of quality brain power to the U.S.
Military, U.S. Health, and High Tech sector. Indians enjoy a high level of respect in the
U.S., Canada and any where they go, as they are educated, friendly, work hard,
respectful others and assimilate well in any type of society or environment.
Indian people, like the Chinese persevered the brutal treatment by the Colonialists. The
late colonial Lord Macaulay reported back to his masters in the UK, whose intent was to
destroy India and genocide many Indians, he simply replied back to his royal masters,
that Indians, are an extremely sophisticated people with depth, intelligence, spiritual and
human moral development and they cannot ever be broken. Please acquaint yourself
with history and please learn some manners. I forgive your ignorance.
Posted by Global Watcher | Report as abusive

Oct 14, 2009

2:09 am EDT
The clown who says India should be broken up into 12 states is an idiot.India is one of
the oldest civilised countries in the world.
It is going from strength to strength & is now among the powerful
countries of the world.They are a peaceful country to boot.They have never threatened
anyone.
Posted by Michael Blake | Report as abusive

Oct 28, 2009

5:08 pm EDT
did the poll specify the age requirement? Or particpants were to speculate and imagine
about what went on in the 20th century?
Posted by rex minor | Report as abusive

Mar 4, 2010
5:42 pm EST
I guess Zia-ul-Haq is most destructive of Pakistan’s leaders.