Before the 2008 general elections and after the assassination of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader, Benazir Bhutto, the US-based Terror Free Tomorrow organisation released a survey in which the PPP was the country’s most popular party (36.7 per cent opted for the Pakistan People’s Party). PML(N) scored 25.3 per cent, where as PML(Q) was at third as only 12 per cent people opted for them.
After that survey PML-Q leader Tariq Azeem rejected the survey report and said that the PML(Q) will win the most seats in the general elections of 2008.
To all those people and politicians who are now rejecting the latest PEW survey and opinions report which is showing Tehreek-e-Insaf as the most popular party should remember this particular 2008 survey. These surveys try to gauge public opinion with eliminating as much statistical bias as possible. The proof is the 2008 general elections where the survey indicated the results with a degree of accuracy. It will be better for all those political parties to re consider their policies instead of rejecting these polls as these surveys often point towards a change in trends. They will ignore them at their own peril.
MUBASHIR MAHMOOD
Karachi
