ISLAMABAD: The government rejected on Wednesday the findings of an opinion poll released on Tuesday by the US-based Pew Research Centre and described it as an exercise that undermined democracy and portrayed incorrectly the Pakistani people’s struggle against terrorism.

A government spokesman said random surveys conducted on a sample size of less than 2,000 people in a country of more than 180 million did not reflect the true picture of a rapidly evolving and dynamic country like Pakistan.

“Which segments of the population have been interviewed and what methodology has been used for this survey? Has this survey been conducted to help Pakistan or to hurt it?

“It appears to be a malicious exercise to malign Pakistan’s politicians, to undermine its democracy, and to wrongly portray the Pakistani people’s courageous fight against terrorism.”

He said a healthy criticism of government policies in a democracy — always encouraged and welcomed by a democratic government – must not be mistaken for a public rejection of national leadership. “Does US President Barack Obama’s declining popularity in recent opinion polls suggest that the American people have rejected him?”

He said the extent of public support that the elected government enjoyed could be gauged by victories it had secured in by-elections during the past three years.

He said the democratic government of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had taken some very brave policy decisions for good governance and national interest.

The spokesperson questioned the Pew Centre’s singular focus on Pakistan, its elected representatives and its people. “What are Pew Centre’s real motives and objectives for conducting this survey?”

He said the government would duly raise these questions with the Pew Research Centre and demand a detailed explanation for its motives, objectives and methodology.—APP

Anwar Iqbal adds from Washington: According to the Pew survey, ratings for President Asif Ali Zardari are overwhelmingly negative. Only 11 per cent Pakistanis have a favourable view of him, down from 20 per cent last year.

Ratings for other leaders have also fallen. Former cricket star turned politician Imran Khan gets the most positive ratings: Nearly seven-in-ten (68 per cent) have a favourable view of him, up from 52 per cent in 2010.

Military: Despite some criticism since the Bin Laden raid in Abbottabad; the Pakistani military remains overwhelmingly popular: 79 per cent say it is having a good influence on the country. Ratings for army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani have remained on balance positive — 52 per cent give him a favourable and 21 per cent unfavourable rating. This represents a slight change from the April poll conducted prior to Bin Laden’s death, when 57 per cent rated him favourably and 18 per cent unfavourably.

National conditions: Roughly nine-in-ten (92 per cent) are dissatisfied with the country’s direction. An almost equal number (85 per cent) say the economic situation in Pakistan is bad. And optimism is scarce – 60 per cent think the economy will worsen in the next 12 months; only 13 per cent believe it will improve.

Abbottabad raid: Most Pakistanis disapprove of the US military operation that killed Osama bin Laden. A majority of Pakistanis describe Bin Laden’s death as a bad thing. Only 14 per cent say it is a good thing.

About three-in-ten (29 per cent) believe the Pakistani government authorised the Abbottabad raid, but 49 per cent say they do not know. Only 18 per cent think the government knew Bin Laden was hiding in Abbottabad. Roughly half (53 per cent) offer no opinion.Extremism: Just 37 per cent support using the Pakistani army to fight extremists — 16 percentage points lower than two years ago. Extremist groups remain widely unpopular. Just 12 per cent of Pakistanis have a positive view of Al Qaeda and of the Taliban.