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KARACHI — Shaken by security problems and squeezed by a backbreaking inflation and a tottering economy, Pakistanis are giving their new government the thumbs-down after one year in office.
A soft-spoken Yousaf Gilani assumed the premiership on March 25 of last year after his Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto emerged as the biggest winner of the general elections.
A national unity government crumpled shortly after former premier Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) quit over differences to restore chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and other judges sacked by General Pervez Musharraf.
Gilani's only publically-recognized achievement, the judges' reinstatement, only came under massive pressure from the opposition and the lawyers.
Other than that, the Asian Muslim country still reels under security challenges, sluggish economy, high inflation rates and low gross domestic product.
Here are the views of common Pakistanis on the one-year performance of the PPP government.
Saqib Ali, a insurance agent by profession
One does not has to be a genius to figure out the performance of the government during the past year. I would rather say that the situation has gone worst as compared to General Musharraf’s regime as far as price-hike, law and order, and over all economy is concerned.
To be very frank, I have seen the government creating crises for itself instead of resolving them. Just look at the judicial crisis, which has caused a loss of billion of Rupees to the economy. This loss could have been averted if the judges had been restored a year ago as per its promise.
I don’t think the economy will recover from this blow soon. If you ask me what good this government has done to us, I would say the reinstatement of the judges. Now, at least there is a hope that the country will be heading in the right direction.
Ayub Ali, a laborer from the northern valley of Swat
Life has become miserable during the past year for poor people. Prices of essential commodities have shot up to 400 percent. We thought that the new government would reduce at least the already sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities, especially flour and vegetables but instead of that it has added to our hardships.
Believe me, we were in much better position last year. We still have to spend six to ten hours without electricity. What has changed for us? Nothing? In fact, it has gone worse as compared to previous years.
I wholeheartedly support the peace agreement [in Swat]. It should be done in other tribal areas also so that the common people can live in peace.
Mohammad Waseem, a university student
I have not seen any improvement in any sector of life during the past year.
There has been no letup in power crisis, price hike, inflation, and most importantly in US drone attacks. We have lost our sovereignty.
It is believed that democracy brings peace, prosperity and self-respect to a nation. But the situation is totally the opposite in Pakistan. Democracy has brought lawlessness, poverty and humiliation to us.
US conducted more drone attacks on our tribal areas during the last year than in the eight-year stint of General Musharraf.
The situation has reached a point where the US government doesn’t even apologize to violation of our air and land space. And what our government is doing, only condemning these attacks.
Junaid Ahmed, a computer operator at a local firm
I am not disappointed because I have never been an optimist about any Pakistani government. I believe that Pakistan is the most difficult country to govern.
This country is being run by mafias. Even if President Asif Zardari is sincere to work for the poor people of this country, these mafias, like land mafia, timber mafia, water mafia, transport mafia, will not let him do that.
I agree with those who term the situation much worst, especially the economic conditions, but I won’t blame the government alone for that. I would blame the system, which has ruined everything here. Until and unless, this system of status-quo is uprooted, neither Zardari nor Sharif can do anything.
But I agree that this government is one of the incompetent governments of Pakistan.
Zubair Ahmad, a salesman
Economic conditions and law and order have deteriorated to a great extent in the country during last year. Unfortunately, no cogent efforts on the part of the government have so far been seen to overcome the crisis.
People are talking more about economic conditions, but I am more worried about deteriorating law and order situation in both urban and rural parts of the country. In urban parts, an unprecedented increase in street crimes. is being witnessed. People are being killed by bandits for mere cell phones.
Similarly, in rural areas, the life of a common person has become miserable. Incidents of kidnap for ransom and armed highway robberies are on the rise.
My suggestion to the government would be to tackle the economic and law and order related issues on priority basis, because they are interconnected. If there are good economic conditions, law and order will automatically be improved.
Mohammad Ilyas, a school teacher
It has become almost impossible for government employees to run their houses. The current salaries are not enough to run the house for even 15 days.
Though the government has increased our salaries by 15 percent, the prices of essential items have shot up to four times.
I would say that the government should focus on containing back-breaking price hike because this has forced the poor people to even sell their body parts to survive.
Mohammad Imran, owners of a small shop in Karachi
I don’t agree that situation has gone worst. I would say that even if economic conditions are not improved, they have not worsened.
The government took the charge in a very difficult scenario when the whole world is being crushed by the economic crisis. Even the world’s largest economies, like US, Japan, Germany and China, are not able to bear the brunt of this crisis.
We must keep all these facts in mind before criticizing the government.
I agree that everything is not good, but there are many positive aspects including the peace deal in Swat, the reinstatement of the judges, monthly aid package for the poor and the youth development program.
The ongoing power crisis is the gift of the previous regime, which did not pay attention towards power generation. It will take some time to control that.
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