PM Gilani enjoys liking of 67% Pakistanis: US survey

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani enjoys the liking of 67 percent Pakistanis, as shown in the global attitudes survey by the Pew Research Centre, Washington. People in public circles see this support by a majority of Pakistanis for Prime Minister Gilani as a compliment, as generally the rating for a sitting prime minister declines. “No doubt it is a compliment for Prime Minister Gilani and the PPP government, as generally the support for the leaders in government declines”, viewed Azmat Ilyas Rana, a student of International Relations in Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad. “I think it is the reconciliatory approach of the government and flexible attitude of Prime Minister Gilani, which has earned him liking by 67% Pakistanis,” Ali Raza, a political analyst commented. Most of the people, asked by this agency to comment on the rating as depicted in the survey, were of the view that Prime Minister Gilani owing to his philosophy of political accommodation and the way of handling the crises, make him a leader favoured by majority of people in the country. The survey conducted by a leading US research group also depicted views of Pakistanis on various issues like terrorism and extremism, relations with India vis a vis Kashmir issue, Pak-China relations etc. Eighty-nine percent Pakistanis surveyed by the US research group say they think of themselves first as Pakistanis, rather than as members of their ethnic groups. As many as 70 percent Pakistanis have unfavorable view of the Taliban and 61 percent reject Al Qaeda openly. Crime and terrorism are seen as major problems by virtually everyone. Long-running concerns about India are also reflected in the poll. The dispute over Kashmir is cited as a major problem facing Pakistan by no fewer than 88 percent. Pakistani’s express overwhelmingly positive opinions about Asian giant - 84 percent have a favourable view of China and 80 percent consider China a partner to their country.