http://www.pkhope.com/who-will-win-pakistan-election-2008-cyclearrowtiger/ A Candid Blog Fri, 25 May 2012 09:13:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 http://www.pkhope.com/who-will-win-pakistan-election-2008-cyclearrowtiger/comment-page-1/#comment-4313 fzuberi Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:20:18 +0000 http://www.pakspectator.com/who-will-win-pakistan-election-2008-cyclearrowtiger/#comment-4313 Mr. Haq you are spot on with your statement "nothing will change fundamentally" until the middle class continues its growth, and the choice is between military dictators and fuedal lords. Mr. Haq you are spot on with your statement “nothing will change fundamentally” until the middle class continues its growth, and the choice is between military dictators and fuedal lords.

]]> http://www.pkhope.com/who-will-win-pakistan-election-2008-cyclearrowtiger/comment-page-1/#comment-4312 Riaz Haq Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:54:05 +0000 http://www.pakspectator.com/who-will-win-pakistan-election-2008-cyclearrowtiger/#comment-4312 Regardless of which party or parties emerge as the winners on February 18, one thing is certain: The power and the influence of the feudals will be very well represented in the corridors of power. And the ordinary people of Pakistan will continue to be at their mercy in the name of democracy, unless the military refuses to cede power to the elected feudals. Amidst all the cries for democracy, independent judiciary, human rights, and fair polls in Pakistan, nothing will change fundamentally on Feb 18. Regardless of the party labels and promises, the feudal power will endure in the name of democracy. The choices remain narrow for Pakistanis: Choose between military and the feudal class. There is no third choice as long as the middle class remains small and unable to exert any real influence. The only hope for real democracy lies in continued robust growth of the middle class over an extended period of time of another decade or two. There are no guarantees that feudal rulers will permit that. Regardless of which party or parties emerge as the winners on February 18, one thing is certain: The power and the influence of the feudals will be very well represented in the corridors of power. And the ordinary people of Pakistan will continue to be at their mercy in the name of democracy, unless the military refuses to cede power to the elected feudals.
Amidst all the cries for democracy, independent judiciary, human rights, and fair polls in Pakistan, nothing will change fundamentally on Feb 18. Regardless of the party labels and promises, the feudal power will endure in the name of democracy. The choices remain narrow for Pakistanis: Choose between military and the feudal class. There is no third choice as long as the middle class remains small and unable to exert any real influence. The only hope for real democracy lies in continued robust growth of the middle class over an extended period of time of another decade or two. There are no guarantees that feudal rulers will permit that.

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