Pakistanis trust their religious leaders and religion more…
Pakistanis ‘put religion first’
Most Pakistanis believe their religion is more important than nationality while Indians trust the police and army more than their politicians.
These were two of the findings of the Gallup International Voice of the People survey 2005, commissioned by the BBC World Service.
The poll surveyed more than 50,000 people in 68 countries, representing the views of 1.3bn citizens.
Its findings explore the global attitudes to power.
Little control
On the question of which people were most trusted, 61% of the surveyed Indians cited the military and police, and 58% said journalists, while only 1% trusted politicians.
Of the surveyed Pakistanis, 55% trusted religious leaders, 42% journalists, 31% politicians and business leaders and 29% the military and police.
Globally, only 13% trusted politicians.
Two-thirds of Indians did not feel their elections were free and fair.
About 77% of surveyed Indians did not believe their country was governed by the will of the people, not far from the global average.
On the question of who had the most influence on decisions taken in personal lives, 92% of surveyed Indians said family and partner, compared to only 45% of Pakistanis. A total of 18% of Pakistanis answered religious leader, while none of the Indians surveyed did.
A total of 68% of Indians and 53% of Pakistanis agreed that there was very little they could do to change their lives. The global average was 34%.
The two countries were almost identical in who they would choose to give more power to - around 55% choosing the military and intellectuals and 50% journalists.
A total of 1,063 Indians and 843 Pakistanis were surveyed in June