Recently our Prime Minister appeared as a guest speaker on a TV channel. The host confronted the Prime Minister with core issues like the drone attacks, provincial-federal tussle in Punjab, the practice of making all important decisions in the Presidency rather than leaving governance to the Prime Minister and the Parliament, IMF loan etc.
In India the President is a figure head and all powers rest with the Prime Minister. The questions were very pertinent generally reflected the feelings of the masses. Unfortunately the Prime Minister was evasive and did not give a firm and categorical reply. Merely saying that it is for the Parliament to decide failed to convince the viewers.
For a lay man it is obvious if an issue is placed before the Parliament it is then when it is debated and a consensus obtained. But if the issues are decided in the Presidency then there is no difference between the present govt and that of General Musharraf (R). Had Benazir Bhutto been alive she would have established democracy with very firm roots and taken Pakistan out of the present mess.