The
most surprising finding of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development
and Transparency latest survey about quality of democracy is the finding that
former President Musharaf occupies fourth position in popularity after Nawaz
Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and Raheel Sharif. The three Sharifs are holding
constitutional positions. One heading the federal government, another the
Punjab government and the last is the head of Pakistan Army. They all are
embodiment of power and are looking after the responsibilities of the state.
They are in a position to positively influence the public opinion through
actions, policies and also through use of media. Pervez Musharaf on the other
hand is facing at least four legal cases including one for high treason, has no
organized party to back him and except some speeches through video link and a
few TV interviews is completely immobilized. As he is in no position to
influence anyone his attainment of fourth position may look dubious to some or due
to some mistake in the survey to some other. PILDAT is a respectable
organization and it does not look possible that it is all due to mistake. In
the circumstances it is obvious that people still remember Musharaf's good
deeds and have either forgotten the unconstitutional acts of his tenure or they
judge a person more by their own standards irrespective of it being
constitutional or not or what government or politicians have to say about that.
It also shows that they are least bothered by the fact that Musharaf is being
tried for high treason.
It
is a wake-up call for politicians who make policies according to their own
priorities instead of finding what the real needs of people are and then making
policies accordingly. They may influence people for some time either through
some political gimmick, using public money for enhancing personal image or by pointing out
opponent's weaknesses and misdeeds, but ultimately people will be judging them
according to their own standards of good work and also remember them when they
are no longer in power.
