As many as 62 percent of people believe that the Pakistan Army should have no role in politics, compared with 55 percent in June, according to a nationwide public opinion survey conducted by a Pakistani organisation on behalf of the United States International Republican Institute (IRI).
The public standing of the Pakistan Army has declined although it still enjoys wide respect. The poll, which was conducted in the first week of September, shows that 70 percent of the respondents look favourably upon the army down from the standard 80 percent in previous surveys conducted in September 2006 and March and June 2007.
Judiciary enjoys more support: The media, with an approval rating of 80 percent, is now PakistanÂ’s most admired institution. The standing of the judiciary rose from 51 percent in March to 77 percent in September, the first time any institution rated more favourably than the army. That, however, was before the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) resulted in reshuffling of the superior courts.
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