The Conservative Cave

Current Events => Politics => Topic started by: bijou on February 10, 2008, 10:52:38 AM

Title: Poll: Bin Laden popularity fading in Pakistan
Post by: bijou on February 10, 2008, 10:52:38 AM
Quote
ISLAMABAD - Sympathy for al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden and the Taleban has dropped sharply in Pakistan amid a wave of deadly violence, according to the results of a recent opinion poll.


The survey also identified the party of assassinated opposition leader Benazir Bhutto as the country’s most popular ahead of Feb. 18 elections, and said most Pakistanis want President Pervez Musharraf to quit.

The poll, conducted last month for the U.S.-based Terror Free Tomorrow organization, suggests Pakistanis are looking to peaceful opposition groups after months of political turmoil and a wave of suicide attacks.

In the latest bloodshed, a bomber blew himself up at an opposition rally in the northwestern town of Charsadda on Saturday, killing 27 people and injuring 50.

According to the poll results only 24 percent of Pakistanis approved of bin Laden when the survey was conducted last month, compared with 46 percent during a similar survey in August.

Backing for al-Qaida, whose senior leaders are believed to be hiding along the Pakistani-Afghan border, fell to 18 percent from 33 percent.

Support for the Taleban, whose Pakistani offshoots have seized control of much of the lawless border area and have been engaged in a growing war against security forces, dropped by half to 19 percent from 38 percent, the results said.

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link (http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2008/February/subcontinent_February287.xml&section=subcontinent)

As with any poll I take it with a pinch of salt, but let's hope it shows a real trend.