December 17, 2001	Monday	Shawwal 1, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 16: The voters’ response in the third phase of the local government elections has shown that people are likely to elect either Benazir Bhutto or Nawaz Sharif as the next prime minister in preference to president Gen Pervez Musharraf, a study by an NGO said.

In a study conducted by the Pattan Development Organization on “Local Government Elections 2001-Phase III, IV and V” when asked who would be a better future prime minister or the head of the government, 38 per cent of the voters opted for Benazir Bhutto, 20 per cent for Nawaz Sharif and, only nine per cent thought General Musharraf would be better.

Analysis of the councillors’ political trends, showed that the PPP hardcore councillors were much more likely to opt for Benazir Bhutto.

However, approximately 44 per cent of Benazir’s support came from councillors who have never voted for the PPP in the last four national assembly elections.

Only 5 per cent of the PML supporters opted for Nawaz Sharif; 67 per cent wanted Gen Musharraf as their future leader.

A large number of councillors from diverse backgrounds have been mobilized into local politics as a result of the devolution plan.

The performance evaluation of the government by the elected councillors is variable in different regions with a sense of alienation in Sindh.

According to the Pattan study, alienation is highest amongst councillors in the districts of Sindh where local government elections were held in phase III. The army rule and the protests against the government’s water policy may have influenced the low ratings in Sindh, the study said.

On the other hand, the rating of Punjabi councillors on the performance of the present government is consistently lower than in Balochistan on all issues, but higher than Sindh.

The study further discloses that the labour class and the farmers are the least satisfied on the issues of inflation control, ending corruption, and instant justice.

The government’s rating was very low on the issues of employment and inflation control according to the councillors.

In the urban-rural analysis, the study shows, the councillors from the urban areas were much more satisfied with the government on almost all issues except the attitude of the local officials.

The study said that when asked which era was the best in the history of Pakistan, 28 per cent of the voters, ranked Zulfiqar 19 per cent opted for General Ayub, 18 per cent General Zia; 16 per cent Benazir, 10 per cent Nawaz Sharif, and 8 per cent General Musharraf.