Washington: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has been placed at the lowest rank in a Washington-based Gallup poll, renowned for predicting US election results and conducting the US presidents’ approval ratings.
Only 20 per cent Pakistani people approved of Zardari, making him dead last in the region.
“Pakistanis have never placed much confidence in President Zardari’s leadership; throughout his tenure, the country has grappled with terrorism, challenging relations with the US and a struggling economy,” The Nation quoted from the report.
In the survey conducted in 21 countries of Asia and the Pacific Rim in 2011, placed Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina Wajid at 7th, Indian premier Manmohan Singh at 11th.
Hasina received higher approval than her counterparts in Australia, New Zealand, or Japan, according to the survey.
The survey report found that just about 19 per cent of the people disapproved of Hasina. The report, however, did not elaborate on the Bangladesh situation and why it is among the top 10 in Asia despite its volatile political arena, soaring food and fuel prices, and chronic utility crises, including severe electricity and gas shortages.
It said recent government corruption scandals and economic troubles most probably tarnished the image of Manmohan Singh, who has seen a slight dip in his approval rating.
The report said, “Economic stability and peace dividends may help explain some of the relatively high approval that leaders of Laos, Cambodia and Sri Lanka get from their constituents.”
In contrast, political discord, internal strife, and geo-political complexities likely affected approval ratings for leaders in Hong Kong, Nepal and Pakistan. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key ranked ninth with an approval rating of 72 per cent, while Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was placed at 14th with 45 per cent and Japan’s Yoshihiko Noda ranked 15th with 44 per cent. The Gallup Poll survey results were based on face-to-face and telephone interviews with approximately 1,000 adults, between April 5 and December 4, 2011, according to the firm.
ANI