Pakistanis want democracy but wary of US: Survey

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Agencies

Posted online: Monday , January 07, 2008 at 12:00:00
Updated: Monday , January 07, 2008 at 08:07:28

Washington, January 7: A majority of Pakistanis want a 'moderate and democratic Islamic' state but is wary of the US as they perceive that Washington is 'hostile' toward Islam, according to a survey.

They have little sympathy for Islamist military groups and rejects “Talibanization” of the country and supports recent government efforts to reform the madrassah system, said the survey conducted by WorldPublicOpinion.org with assistance from the US Institute of Peace.

“While Pakistan is racked by conflict between leaders and groups vying for power, this poll indicates that most Pakistanis largely agree on a moderate and democratic Islamic state,” Steven Kull of WorldPublicOpinion.org said in a statement recently.

“The good news is that majority of Pakistanis view most militant groups in Pakistan as a threat. The bad news is that many Pakistanis view the US with great suspicion,” Christine Fair of the RAND Corporation, formerly at the US Institute of Peace, remarked.

There is a growing Pakistani perception that the United States is hostile to their desire for a more Islamic society.

Indeed, 86 per cent now say it is definitely (70%) or probably (16%) a US goal to “weaken and divide the Islamic world.” The survey finds strong public support for a wider role for Islam.

Asked to gauge the importance of living “in a country that is governed according to Islamic principles (Sharia)” on a 10-point scale, 61 per cent give an answer of 10 (meaning absolutely important).

And on the importance of living “in a country that is governed by representatives elected by the people”, the mean response is 8.4, which indicates an overwhelming support for the suggestion.

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JIHAD Movement in ISLAM. by Amir Khan on 07 Jan 2008

USA ready to strike Pakistan and take away their NUKES! Pakis are real loosers now. Their enemy is USA and West rather than Taliban. Pakistan should unit against USA and the West. Pakistanis are real intelegent and good people at heart, but have lost their pride to the west over JIHAD Movement in ISLAM.

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PAk opinion poll rejects US by RJ Khurana on 07 Jan 2008

It didn't need an opinion poll (conducted by WorldPublicOpinion.org of the US Institute of Peace) to convince the Americans that they are suspect in the eyes of the Pakistanis. Militants, of course, are 100% anti-US but even the moderates who prefer democracy to Islamic dictatorship resent frequent American intervention in Pak affairs. General (Retd) Musharraf stands isolated and is one of the most hated men today because of his suspected closeness to American. Even Benazir Bhutto widely seen as a liberal democrat incurred the wrath of the extremists because of suspected closeness to Americans. They had no hesitation in eliminating her.

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HOW MUST TRUST WORTHY PAKISTAN IS IN THE FIRST PLACE? by P.S. on 07 Jan 2008

YES, THE PAKIS ARE WARY OF THE U.S. THEY DONT TRUST THE U.S. ...BUT NO BODY KNOWS FOR SURE, HOW MUCH TRUSTWORTHY THE PAKI. THEMSELVES ARE. SEE THE WAY THEY COORDINATE TO HURT THE NEIGHBOURS LIKE INDIA AND AFGHANISTAN, TOMORROW IT MAYBE EVEN S.LANKA OR BANGLA OR NEPAL. ( WITH CHINE THEY ARE THE CHAMCHAS ) IT IS AN EPICENTER OF TERROR AND CRADLE OF SAVAGERY.

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