Peak to Peak Ratios

Various campaigns for the dialogue and peace process continue time and again between India and Pakistan, the arch rivals of this part of the world. But never have once succeeded. So let the truth be faced, the rivalry between the two nations continues as ever in all walks of life. And the worst part of it is that the success of one nation is really hard to digest for the other.

It is said that a leader is a person who takes his people

from where they are, to a place far ahead to where they have never been before. Well, if we define a leader according to such a definition, then our leader should be a person with outstanding dynamic abilities, distinguished repute in the whole world and a spectacular vision to determine our future.

Today we analyze the dissimilarity amongst the individuals occupying the top office in the power structure of the two rival countries and this is why we call it the Peak to Peak Ratios.

Let’s start at home with Pakistan. President Asif Ali Zardari, the present head of state of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Along with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, the present head of state of India. Following is just a table to differentiate the professional abilities and achievements of both the heads of states. Take a look.

Manmohan Singh                           VS                           Asif Ali Zardari

This is not to criticize our worthy president. This is just to show the difference, the difference between the aptitudes of the two leaders. The difference between the fates of the two countries because the abilities of leaders directly affect the future of nations. The theory is very simple: Capable leaders, bright future; incapable leaders, dark future. Well, from the getups of the two. The Pakistani president may seem like a person of much higher stature. But the truth is that getups do not matter in the future of nations.

For any particular person an introduction is vital. The intro defines a person in the eyes of others. Go to the internet and search the names. Like for instance we search Dr Manmohan Singh  and we’ll know that this person is a world renowned economist. And then you search for Asif Ali Zardari. And all (the positive things) you get is Zardari is the husband of the late  Benazir Bhutto who was twice the prime minister of pakistan and was likely to be elected for the third time but was slain in decenmer 2007. That’s all? No! that is not all Zardari is known to have served 11 years in jail without ever been convicted of a single charge.  It is said that all cases against him were political in nature.

Any random person off the streets can ask u what is your area of expertise? Well Indian prime minister would simply say I am an economist! What would president Zardari say? I am a ………….WHAT?

Well this is Ironic but true!

Whatever the case maybe, apart from criticizing leaders the question arises that a plain politician is more appropriate to be in the head’s office or a technocrat in the head’s office is more suited for a developing country. The answer lies in simple common sense. This can be backed by facts. Let’s consider the career of Manmohan Singh.

Apart from all the degrees he obtained throughout his illustrious academic career. He has been given 4 honorary doctorate degrees in civil laws from universities like Oxford, Cambridge and others. St. John’s College further honored him by naming a PhD Scholarship after him, the Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarship. Now take a look at the offices this man has held.

1. He has been the Chief of Financing for Trade Section at UNCTAD (United Nations conference on trade and development).
2. Chief Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance, India, (1972–1976)
3. Director, Reserve Bank Of India (1976–1980)
4. Director, Industrial Development Bank of India (1976–1980)
5. Secretary, Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs), (1977–1980)
6. Governor, Reserve Bank of India (1982–1985)
7. Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of India, (1985–1987)
8. Advisor to Prime Minister of India on Economic Affairs (1990–1991)
9. Finance Minister of India, (21 June 1991 – 15 May 1996)
10. Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House of Indian Government(1998–2004)
11. Prime Minister of India (22 May 2004 – Present).

As finance minister the policies that he implemented changed the annual economic growth of India from 3%, to an average of 8–9% annually. He is the only person after Jawaharlal Nehru who has ever been elected to the premier office for the second consecutive term of 5 years. Here, one is forced to imagine that this man is really doing wonders out there in India.

While on the other hand, let’s consider the profile of President Asif Ali Zardari. Apart from his rattling educational career. He is the co-chairman of The Pakistan People’s Party (the present ruling party), a party founded by his father in law and chaired by BB till her assassination back in 2007.

1. He is today considered to be the richest man of Pakistan with an estimated net worth of more than US$1.8 billion (figure of year 2005).
2. He has worked in Pakistani films as a child star.
3. He served as investment and environment minister in Bhutto’s governments.

Well if I was criticizing our worthy president, I would have said that if he was so much capable of being a federal minister, he would have been bestowed with this honor before marrying BB. But the truth is that in only one year after tying a knot with BB, he attained ministership. Today the sad part is anyone could be elected as a member of national assembly in Pakistan whether the person is educated or not.

On top no evidence has ever been found against him. In October 2007, the President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, issued the National Reconciliation Ordinance which granted amnesty to politicians in office from 1986 to 1999. A well deserved gift to Pakistan by the person who always claimed “Pakistan first”, but we understand that this had to be the reason why Musharraf was given a safe exit after violating the constitution of Pakistan.

The bottom line is, Does president Zardari has what it takes to make our country free from all corruption? Is he the person who can bring peace and good governance in Pakistan? Is he the person who will give up everything to save Pakistan? Is he the person whose everything is Pakistan? And whose everything is “IN” Pakistan? Can he bring justice and education to the weak in Pakistan?

There is no doubt that Allah has given him an unfathomable opportunity to prove his skeptics wrong. With this opportunity in hand, our worthy president can really prove all allegations wrong. But the question is will he do that? Is he really innocent? Is he the right person for us? Did we really choose him? Above all what is the future of Pakistan? Will Pakistan be on top of India in the future or not?

The answer lies in our hearts!!!