Musharraf is Criticised in Public Survey

Via BBC -

An international opinion poll of Pakistanis suggests widespread public opposition to President Musharraf's re-election as president.

Most people are also critical of the imposition of the state of emergency.

The poll was carried out by the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI).

Meanwhile the president's lawyers say that he will soon lift the state of emergency, but only after ensuring that he cannot be brought before a court.

The IRI say that their field workers interviewed more than 3,500 adults across Pakistan in what was the first broad survey of public opinion since President Musharraf declared a state of emergency on 3 November.

It suggests widespread public anger about the measures taken by him.

The president has often been at loggerheads with the judiciary.

More than 70% of those questioned said they did not support the President's re-election for another five year term.

Two-thirds said they wanted him to resign.

There was also strong opposition to the state of emergency itself - 70% of the people questioned said it should not have been declared.

A consistent majority - always more than 70% - opposed each of the main restrictions imposed by the state of emergency.

These include the suspension of the constitution, the ban on political rallies, the detention of the former Supreme Court judges and the curbs on the media.

Two-thirds of people surveyed said they thought the president's reason for the state of emergency was not to fight terrorism but to stop the Supreme Court from over-turning his re-election.

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This view seems to be supported by reports of election divide forming in the MMA (Pakistan's alliance of Islamic political parties) and journalists accusing the government of censoring general election media coverage.

In other news, I am not sure what to think about Musharraf's recent takeover of the National Command Authority (NCA), the body which is responsible for operating the country's nuclear weapons.

And while I hope for free elections in Pakistan early next year, I am truly afraid of the government that might be elected. Many fear that the next elected government will be much more radical than the current.