Communicable aspirations

The most remarkable feature of Pakistan?s election was not that President Musharraf?s budget reasoning failed to find popular resonance, or even that wheat prices were skyhigh in the runup to polling, but the communication revolution that had taken place since the 2002 election.

The most remarkable feature of Pakistan?s election (?Resonance of reason?, Feb 18) was not that President Musharraf?s budget reasoning failed to find popular resonance, or even that wheat prices were skyhigh in the runup to polling, but the communication revolution that had taken place since the 2002 election. Pervasive cellphones and a raucous media are of Musharraf?s own ushering in, and popular aspirations are driven by lives seen on TV in India. But to keep up with its 9%-per-annum neighbour, Pakistan needs clarity on economic policy.

?Ranjan Trivedi

Play lucky seven

Pakistan?s election results, irrespective of who is pronounced the ?winner?, will not materially change its fortunes. Pakistan?s key problems are:

1) Talibanism, fundamentalism and terrorism,

2) President Musharraf?s earlier loss of credibility,

3) The cult of violence,

4) Lack of young leaders,

5) Overdependence on the West for military/economic aid,

6) Inadequate focus on economic development,

7) Elite concentration of political/economic power, and

Unless these issues are addressed by Musharraf and his new government, Pakistan will continue to be unstable.

?Rajendra?K Aneja, Dubai

Go electronic

Election results in Pakistan, with a hung Parliament in the making, give President Musharraf an opportunity to continue his rule. But it was surprising that in such a fast-developing country, ballot papers were adopted instead of electronic voting machines. India could have loaned these to its neighbour.

?Madhu Agrawal, New Delhi

This article was first uploaded on February twenty, twenty eight, at twenty-four minutes past eleven in the night.