Pakistanis- How would describe Mr. Nawaz Sharif?

[OTTOMAN]

Youre not joking are you ???

Seriously... i want to have a hint of master slave relationship... i know Pakistan has passed on nuclear tech. to Iran and that is what i call master slave relationship but not the usual labor issues... if that's what you have in mind? to the contrary believing into Express Tribune story is indeed, quite a joke.

 

[Foggy_Bottom]

Guys Guys Guys- Please, I did not want this to be a topic of infighting. I just want to know your thoughts on his political ideology. Perhaps I should've been more specific by asking where you would grade ( left/ right or center) on. I will add this to my original post.

• Economy ( pro business or pro labor, taxation policies, spending vs. cutting, big government vs Private sector )
• Security ( hard handed or conciliatory )
• Foreign policy ( open to all governments, bold or conservative)
• Religiously ambiguous or prone to regional politics

Fantastic topic. Thanks,

Here are my "ramblings" in a short time. So please point out where I make mistakes or missed something. I am sure you have your study on this subject as well.


To understand Nawaz Sharif, it will be good to understand his father, the elder Sharif.

What shaped elder Sharif's ideology?

One major point! nationalization by Zulifqar Bhutto.
Bhutto targetted top business families and used government power to loot all their factories and banks and other institutions.
This created immense hatred for Bhutto's socialist policies. And Elder Sharif represented that hatred,.


So in some ways you can compare Sharifs' with Anti-Casto Cuban-Americans.

They may be left leaning on social issues, but fiercely right wingers on economics.

Thus Nawaz Sharif represent the reaction of Punjabi business class to the socialist policies of Zulfi Bhutto and his Pakistan Peoples Party.

However NS has been moulded and changed by the successive eras of political upheavals in Pakistan.

He probably is the only Prime Minister who has had experience of running a state (provincial) government before becoming PM.

All other 1970+ era PMs have been parachuted into the top position.

So far I have mentioned his strong points.


His weak points are his lack of deep study of European and international history and socio-economic trends.

So he ends up relying on the line followed by business elite in India, Iran, and Turkey.

What is that line?

Make money by dealing with anyone you can
But remain religious (Muslim, or Hindu) in your outlook.

Most Punjabi businessmen (and Urdu speaking + Pashtoon ) thus follow an Islamist view towards law making and international relations. you can apply same line on Hindu businessmen in India who would rather support religion oriented BJP like parties,

As Islamist view of the world is very left oriented, hence you see him behaving that way.

Within the country, this attitude lead our business elite (including NS) to support Islamist movements, and Islamist injections into our constitution.

Coming back to NS and his fiascos as PM.

His first stint as PM was fiercely global and very much open door for business and investment.
-- Our leftist bureaucracy didn't like it at all and he was sent paking shortly after his 1 year into 5 year government.

His second stint as PM was filled with follies because of his prior experience,.
This time around he injected more Islam and more Sharia into the constitution. But he made a key mistake of splitting Pakistan army. This resulted in Musharraf ousting him,

Now is his third time.
he is avoiding all the mistakes he made during first two times. But still hobbled by leftist and anti-US educated elite and bureaucracy, and media.

However he is keeping army happy, so it might be possible for him to complete his 5 years tenure.

In all this, he has his younger brother as a head of the largest state (province), so that keeps his political boat relatively stable. He also has appointed his close friends and family to key positions in order to make sure he keeps his foundations as strong as possible.

So let's see how things go.


From American perspective, I wish someone had introduced him to the work by Heritage foundation and Cato institute.

I only wish.,

Thank you so very much for that background. Much appreciated.

 

[Viper0011.]

This is time we call spade a spade. The truth is often hurtful, however it does set you free after pissing you off. Our PM is nothing but a blue eyed boy of the Amerosaudi camp which seeks to reshape the geopolitics of this region. We all know that his mandate is illegitimate as the elections were not only rigged but engineered. His 18 months in office have been a tale of failures.

Let's do call spade, spade please. Who, out of Pakistan's history is NOT an Ameri-Saudi blue eyed boy??? Before you point to Imran Khan, please do know he's not in power. When he ever becomes something, and keeps the SAME relationships with the Ameri-Saudis.......somehow it'll be the right thing to do.

Gen. Zia's a*ss got kicked....where did he go? NS's rear got hurt by Mushy due to Kargil.....where did he go? Mushy himself got hurt because his own Military wouldn't come to his rescue due to his dictatorship......where did he go? Kiyani needed airlift capability and other night vision goggles.....where did HE go? Gen. Raheel needed equipment....where did HE had to go????

So the point is, don't blame NS out of your personal bias. If you want to blame anything, blame the game. Not the player, and one player on top of all others????

The real fact, and something if you guys decide to get it, is that the US has been your ally since Pakistan was created. So, no matter how much hatred you have for us, you still end up in the USA. So my ask is, why bash America and look bad when you could appreciate what the US does for you and have a healthy relationship??? Today's globalization won't allow you to be able to run a country with success in isolation. The Indians got it and look where they are today....

 

[FaujHistorian]

• Economy ( pro business or pro labor, taxation policies, spending vs. cutting, big government vs Private sector )
• Security ( hard handed or conciliatory )
• Foreign policy ( open to all governments, bold or conservative)
• Religiously ambiguous or prone to regional politics

.

[*]Economy ( pro business or pro labor, taxation policies, spending vs. cutting, big government vs Private sector )

pro-Business
Taxation policies - confusing. Not all his fault. Tax office is filled with leftist baboos. so NS has little room to play
Spending - Almost like FDR. Big infrastructure projects. Big power stations etc.


[*]Security ( hard handed or conciliatory )

Conciliatory

[*]Foreign policy ( open to all governments, bold or conservative)
Conservative. He would like to lean much more towards EU and US. However just like the tax office, our foreign office is filled with leftist baboos. so NS has little room to play

[*]Religiously ambiguous or prone to regional politics
Like business class across the region, he leans towards religious policies



Hope this adds to your list

But I am sure you have specific pointers and questions,. So please fire away.

Let's do call spade, spade please. Who, out of Pakistan's history is NOT Ameri-Saudi blue eyed boy??? Before you point to Imran Khan, please do know he's not in power. When he ever becomes something, and keeps the SAME relationships with the Ameri-Saudis.......somehow it'll be the right thing to do. Zia's a*ss got kicked....where did he go? NS's rear got hurt by Mushy due to Kargil.....where did he go? Mushy himself got hurt because his own Military wouldn't come to his rescue due to his dictatorship......where did he go? Kiyani needed airlift capability and other night vision goggles.....where did HE go? Gen. Raheel needed equipment....where did HE had to go????

So the point is, don't blame NS out of your personal bias. If you want to blame anything, blame the game. Not the player, and one player on top of all others????

The real fact, and something if you guys decide to get it, is that the US has been your ally since Pakistan was created. So, no matter how much hatred you have for us, you still end up in the USA. So my ask is, why bash America and look bad when you could appreciate what the US does for you and have a healthy relationship??? Today's globalization won't allow you to be able to run a country with success in isolation. The Indians got it and look where they are today....

Zeb bhai,

I believe OP deserves much more than our infighting

So please add to his points/questions.

thank you

 

[farhan_9909]

I'm looking for your opinions on where you think Mr. Sharif's ideology would best fit in.

I understand many of you dislike him or are frustrated with him But- if you were to define him on his ideology vs. record- would he more like a Republican or Democrat or middle of the road. How do you view him on his overall political ideology?

My perception of him as the old Nawaz I knew- is that he is a middle of the road politician, left leaning on international affairs, yet right leaning in terms of economic agenda . Can you help me understand what your feelings are about him?

How you would grade ( left/ right or center) on:

• Economy ( Pro business or Pro labor, Taxation policies, Spending vs.Cutting, Big government vs Private sector )
• Security ( hard handed or conciliatory )
• Foreign policy ( open to all governments, bold or conservative)
• Religiously ambiguous or prone to regional politics

*Economy=Very Good,even recently imf has predicted 5% growth for this year
*Security=slightly improved
*Foeign polict=Extremely poor

 

[Viper0011.]

I'm looking for your opinions on where you think Mr. Sharif's ideology would best fit in.

I understand many of you dislike him or are frustrated with him

My perception of him as the old Nawaz I knew- is that he is a middle of the road politician, left leaning on international affairs, yet right leaning in terms of economic agenda . Can you help me understand what your feelings are about him?

My friend, you are on the wrong forum for your question. About 90% or more opinions from members here, will be "I hate NS", because of the fact that he stands on a democratic principle that the Military is an ARM of the Civilian government. It can't over take the democracy or change it by force. A general salutes the elected officials and the same general leaves his belt on the table when asked to do so, by the civilian elected leader.

But folks attached to the military, direct or indirect, somehow think the military is the super organization that can run a country. Despite living in almost minimal electricity, education, etc, for decades (examples of basic human needs). Over 60% of the time (or more), the country was under the military's rule so go figure why the progress didn't happen!

This is a defense related forum, about 90% of the people on here come from some military backgrounds (direct, indirect, or related). So based on the above, there is no liking of a Civilian leader. People will conveniently ignore the past two years of hard work by the elected government, but will bring up stuff from 20 years ago. But if their favorite guy does even worst, its all allowed.

The reality is, he's a good businessman and a leader. He's not too left or too right and you want that in a leader. Either extreme is dangerous. He's able to bring billions through foreign investments and he's got a solid plan to end (by 80-90%) the electric outages. You'll start to see that in the next two years. So people are going to be getting better quality of life and that's all I care for.

The poor people of Pakistan deserve an economically and politically stable Pakistan, FREE of terrorism where the next generations of Pakistanis can integrate with the global economy, be successful and modern, without having any stigma associated to their country like the terrorism, etc. That's what I'd like to see a future Pakistan to be. Where Americans, the British and everyone else can go visit and enjoy the awesome beauty found near the Himalayas, without fear of terrorism or getting killed.

 

[TheNoob]

GIVE ME A POSITIVE RATING PLS

 

[Viper0011.]

[*] I believe OP deserves much more than our infighting
So please add to his points/questions. thank you

I am just outlining the facts. Not showing any in or out fighting. The fact is, if one person will jump the ship and color someone a bad picture, he or she should ALSO see how many other characters fit inside that picture too. When everyone looks the same under the scope then why pick one. Let's talk about true reality....

 

[jammersat]

i'm not pakistani , but to me mr. Sharif is like the movie back to the future

 

[FaujHistorian]

i'm not pakistani , but to me mr. Sharif is like the movie back to the future

Which character?

Fox or his mentor?

 

[Mughal-Prince]

No caption needed.

View attachment 179702

Ooh indeed he is.
Mentioned with "HIS MASTERS VOICE" .

 

[jammersat]

Which character?

Fox or his mentor?

i don't remember the characters but it wasn't a good character to mention like you suggest

 

[FaujHistorian]

i don't remember the characters but it wasn't a good character to mention like you suggest

OK

 

[SBD-3]

This is time we call spade a spade. The truth is often hurtful, however it does set you free after pissing you off. Our PM is nothing but a blue eyed boy of the Amerosaudi camp which seeks to reshape the geopolitics of this region. We all know that his mandate is illegitimate as the elections were not only rigged but engineered. His 18 months in office have been a tale of failures.

But still amrican aid and saudi money goes in someone else's pocket.....Rest of the arguement is a tale of desperation and jelousy

 

[Developereo]

By the way John Kerry after meeting our COAS on his recent visit quipped that PA was 'the binding force' of Pakistan

Lord knows I am not a military fan boy, but Kerry is right.

The only institution in Pakistan that can claim to enjoy universal loyalty is the army. Other than that, Pakistan has lost any sense of national identity that we had. Almost everything in the civilian space is divided along ethnic, ilnguistic, religious or political lines. Our failure to come together after the Peshawar massacre says it all.

Anyways, sorry for the off-topic post.