'Sharief's coming has worsened law and order in Pakistan'

Thirtysix per cent of Pakistanis think Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief is doing a good job, 18 per cent would rather see him out of office and 50 per cent believe, given five years, he would be able to turn around the country's sluggish economy.

The statistics are from a just-released survey which coincides with Sharief's completing 100 days in office.

In February, when Sharief took office, 62 per cent Pakistanis had given him the thumbs up. A poll conducted on March 30 had established that only three per cent thought he was doing a bad job. But now, in the May 15 poll, the percentage has gone up by 15.

However, the majority still believe his government will deliver, given time; but are alarmed at the increasing sectarian violence. In the past four months, clashes between the militant Sunni and Shiite Muslims have left more than 50 dead. Sixty per cent favoured banning such sectarian organisations.

Sharief's government is currently battling a staggering external debt of more than $ 32 billion, high unemployment and rampant corruption in the public sector.

A majority of Pakistanis said they supported a strong line against graft, with 73 per cent favouring immediate dismissal of corrupt officials.

Sixtythree per cent also said they supported public humiliation of corrupt bureaucrats, including state television footage of convicted public official in handcuffs.

Two of every three Pakistanis said law and order has deteriorated since Sharief took office.

The poll surveyed more than 1,000 men and women in urban areas in all the four provinces of Pakistan. The margin of error is three percentage points.

UNI