World

Kayani only Pakistani in Forbes 'most powerful' list

Forbes places General Kayani at number 29, Sonia Gandhi makes top 10, Dawood Ibrahim beats Oprah and Assange.

Express November 04, 2010

Chief of army staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is the only Pakistani to make it to the Forbes ‘World’s Most Powerful People’ list, landing at number 29.

The supreme commander of the Pakistan military was 20 steps down from Indian leader Sonia Gandhi, who made it in the top ten, at number nine. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was at number 18, ahead of French president Nicolas Sarkozy and the United States secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Other interesting personalities to make the list were Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg at number 40, al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden at number 57 and Indian underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who beat Oprah Winfrey and Julian Assange for the 63^rd spot.

Topping the list is the President of China Hu Jintao, who bumped United States President Barack Obama to number two.

Rank	Name	Organization
1	Hu Jintao President	People's Republic of China
2	Barack Obama President	United States of America
3	Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud King	Saudi Arabia
4	Vladimir Putin Prime Minister	Russia
5	Pope Benedict XVI Pope	Roman Catholic Church
6	Angela Merkel Chancellor	Germany
7	David Cameron Prime Minister	United Kingdom
8	Ben Bernanke Chairman	Federal Reserve
9	Sonia Gandhi President	Indian National Congress
10	Bill Gates Co-Chair	Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

With additional reporting by Shaheryar Popalzai.

COMMENTS (52)

Ghazanfar | 13 years ago | Reply MAN AT THEIR BEST General Kayani is God gifted for Pakistan and Pak Army.May you live long.People of pakistan are with you.

MZO | 13 years ago | Reply ya why not General Kayani is the most powerful army chief in the World because there is no chief in top 50 powerful persons.

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User | 13 years ago | Reply long live General Kiyani....One man army

c.rasheed | 13 years ago | Reply Power is not something to be proud of untill and unless you use this power in an appropriate manner, where it is needed. we humans are superior because of our wisdom not because of Power. If he is wise enough and if he can think of the betterment of his fellow beings and use his power for them if he can control his NAFS and use his power for the ones who are not power ful we all salute him and pray for him till our last breaths. May Allah give us all the strength and power of control our NAFS and thinking beyound selfishness.

EJ | 13 years ago | Reply what good is his being so powerful bringing to the country?

Saad | 13 years ago | Reply i dont know where you people are going with this....If indians dont have enough respect for generals we can live with paying more respect to army than corrupt politicians, gen Kiani is doing his best to rid the country of terorists and has cleared most parts of the country,Pak army has done in a year what the indians have not been able to do in 60 years in kashmir nor the US or NATO forces been able to do in Afghanistan over 10 years..so i suggest they should start taking lessons from Pakistan

munieb | 13 years ago | Reply oo i like this person i think he deserve this....now our nation should open his eyes and c who is better for our country and who is able to make this country strong

Parvez Mahmood | 13 years ago | Reply A general is the most powerful man in Pakistan! And we dare compare ourselves with the Indians???

Danish | 13 years ago | Reply None of the persons in the list are powerful, they are all puppets in the hands of secret rulers of the world (Freemasons, Illuminati, Bilderberg group, Zionists etc...)

khalid.aziz | 13 years ago | Reply Its a shame to have COAS in this list. Well, it tells it all- where do we stand as of today? "Independent" since 1947?---------is it really true?

Adil Sardar | 13 years ago | Reply i dont thnk that it is of great honor, if you view all the forbes list of world most powerful person it also mentioned the name of Osama bin Ladin (Founder of Al-Qaida) and Dawood Ibrahim(D-Company). so you people dont worry about the rank, its just a list.

Anis Qureshi | 13 years ago | Reply Powerful? Can he defeat terrorist and save pakistanis from the brutalities of these talibans or he wants to keep them as a strategic assets. He has to decide if he is with pakistani nation or with these extremist who have destroyed our unity and are the source of intolerance and hatred in our nation. Unity is strength for nation. We can only survive as a nation if we are not divided on religious or sectarian lines.

TheTruth | 13 years ago | Reply This kind of pampering spoilt Musharraf and he ended where he is. We must get out of personality fixations. Kiyani is not the strongest, it is the Pakistan Army who's head he happens to be at this time.Tomorrow it will be someone else. The media has a hand in making idols out of people and then breaking them mercilessly. Let us discuss issues not personalities please. We are sick of it.

User | 13 years ago | Reply I thought the President of Pakistan was the supreme commander of the Pakistan military!!!!! Thanks Express Tribune for "updating" my knowledge base....i was wrong!!!!

Faryaz | 13 years ago | Reply Respectable fellas, Well Sonia Gandhi deserves Top 10, she is running the biggest democracy of the world, and 2nd populated nation, while Hillary Clinton should have been under top 10 or near. Why pope has taken such vital position by the way? :D What about Lama? Regards,

shah khan | 13 years ago | Reply o common people grow up . who is no 1 and no 10 . fact why you are compairing this man who belongs to the most respectful institution of our country with thes bunch of people most of them doesnot even know what nos are .

Saad | 13 years ago | Reply I dont know why people take democracy as a standard to judge a country, democracy is a system so is military rule, both systems have there own pros and cons, and democracy being the most corrupt system should not be used to make judgments about countries, especially in case for Pakistan if we have had military rules then one must also see that the country has progressed much more under military generals than anyone else, so for us may be democratic politic system is just not feasible, plus if anyone has doubts about the role of Pakistan army or its chief to be a mercenary, they better do some research and come up with genuine facts, Pakistan army has been fighting in its own areas against the talibans funded by "international agencies" and Pak Army has done it much more effectively than the US and NATO forces or anyone else in this regard. and people should also not forget that Gen Kiani being the 29th most influential person has done nothing outside his professional commitment, if he out ranks the politicians its because the politicians are not doing their job... i dont know how much these lists matter anyways....but if they are worth anything id like to pay my heartiest congratulation to Gen Kiani and request him to do whatever is in his power to rid us of the corrupt politicians

Sarfaraz Paracha | 13 years ago | Reply isnt this the 'top puppets of the new order list'? i'd really want to know the criteria behind these rankings.

rocket | 13 years ago | Reply the euphoria over this news which ought to be a sad event,only suggests a bleak future for this country called Pakistan.

Narejo | 13 years ago | Reply LOL. Sonia Gandhi in top ten. I guess Forbes wanted to have Congress Party. She is part of a very powerful dynasty but Sonia does not = the power of Congress.

User | 13 years ago | Reply how can say kiyani who cann't stop corruption of current government, drone attack on our innocent muslim brothers, country's peace & stability. he will be powerful if he stop our government's corruption, daily increasing of useable items.

Yasser | 13 years ago | Reply Most powerful Pakistan not able to control suicide bombs, corruption of government, landlords who drowned poor people for the sake of their land during floods, attack on minorities, shrines then what kind of powerfulness is this? Give me a break...

ihsan | 13 years ago | Reply As people suggested that democracy is destorying pakistan. i think it is absord because o many countries ue domocatic system and are profiting from it, but the mentility of pakitan democracy is totaly wrong.they monapulate the system which thoes few families and the army cheifs can role the country. in the future if willing to bring reform to the system and these family lagacys and dictatorhip.today pakitan is running economcaly on begging with the size of population and land pakistan can became a mojor economic hub in asia.

Asad | 13 years ago | Reply I fail to understand why people are happy about this news. This shows almost everything that is wrong with our system. The army is supposed to be subservient to the civilian government, and yet it is the army chief who calls all the shots. The civilians have to have tons of photoshoots with Kiani to prove that their government will survive. Furthermore, apart from the politicians, there is no one else either with enough clout in the world to be mentioned in the list - no businessmen, scientists, economists, thinkers, etc etc.

Hasan | 13 years ago | Reply The only Pakistani in the list is a military general. What does it say about us as a so called free and democratic nation? We are neither free nor democratic. We are still hostage to black viceroys who look and sound like us, that is why our tribal mentality likes them so much, but treat us even worst than white viceroys. We are idiots of worst kind and no doubt deserve what comes to us as a result.

Ben | 13 years ago | Reply It now seems that the West respects only one institution in this country of corrupt politicians and small time thugs ruling the country. Surely, Pakistan Army has regained its respect. But what is the benefit for the nation for his Forbes rating? Read more at: link text

Arif Shah | 13 years ago | Reply It is not necessary that democracy is solution of Every thing. I feel Democratic system of Pakistan is designed to destroy pakistan

prasad | 13 years ago | Reply I think this list will have a permanent position for a general of the Pakistani army - today it is Kayani, tomorrow it will be someone else. And I think his position will only improve as the USA withdraws from Afghanistan. Kayani is among the few generals of an army that gets paid by a foreign power to secure its own borders - that should make him the most powerful mercenary in the world. About Dawood Ibrahim - is he listed as a pakistani or as an Indian? Surely his Indian citizenship has been revoked!!

Mullah | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan has had several powerful rulers in the past as well These rulers misused and abused the power for self indulgement as a result they took Pakistan 25 yrs behind. Mr keyani appears to be a well balanced man with honesty and intrgrety compared to the CLOWNS running the show in Pakistan. I pray that with the power bestowed on him He uses it to root out the plague that runs the country.

ihsan | 13 years ago | Reply i personally think this man is not powerful as the magzine sugests because and his watchful eyes pakistan is callapsing more coruption,povety.zardari is ruleing the country.the magzine should put zardari more fowerful than kayani.wake up pakistan before its too late.

Sana Naseer Shaikh | 13 years ago | Reply All over the opinions, I just want to say that now a days the situation of Pakistan democracy is failed to handled properply, people completly ignored the wrong deeds by miltary what they had in past Government. This Government fails to manipulate the circumstances, crime ratio increased, day by day eatables, petrol, transport rents much increased, it's reduce the gap between rich & poor...It's desperate poverty.In the nutshell, however is that the fault lies not with democracy itself, but in a lack of democracy.

imran khan | 13 years ago | Reply At first this might be a very proud thing for every pakistani out there, but this has a lot to do with the coming events in the country. WE WANT ANOTHER REGIME ! ... do we ?

User | 13 years ago | Reply All crap. Jews are the most powerful ,control media and all

Sonam Shyam | 13 years ago | Reply Mr.Khalil Ahmed, its people like you who glorify the Generals of the Pakitani army, who have subverted every democratic institution in your country. If being head of a powerful army, in your view, should give Kayani the ticket to be a powerful world personality, then Indian, U.S. and Chinese army chiefs should be in top three. By the way Mr. Khalil, the world knows about the disastrous military campaigns of the Pakistani army since 1947. Pakistan would become a much better place to live in if the army goes back to the barracks and allows civilians to run the country.

Khalil Ahmad | 13 years ago | Reply i don't know wht parameters are used to enlist these personalities, but, in my point of view, MR. KAYANI, must be placed in alomost top 10 powerful men of the world. the reason is, his army is one of the most powerful aronud globe and to place him at 29th place is not a fair decision. more astonishing thing is the placement of SONIA GHANDHI at 9th, VERY FUUNY

Sonam Shyam | 13 years ago | Reply Gen Kayani is undoubtedly the most powerful Pakistani today. In fact, it is the chair which he is occupying is the most powerful in Pakistan. Gen Kayani's name in the list of powerful people is a clear indication that the democracy in Pakistan is an absolute sham. Its shocking that educated Pakistanis are gloating over the achievements of Gen Kayani while on the contrary they should be hanging their heads in shame that Generals have never allowed democracy to flourish in Pakistan. Pakistan has always been a military state with or without a sham democracy.

kabir | 13 years ago | Reply Weldon general kyani you are such a great man, Allah bless you with his count less blesses..no doubt its a great honor for us being as Pakistani.Pakistan zinda abad

IZ | 13 years ago | Reply Surely Rupert Murdoch should be in the top 5? But ho, hum, such lists are so pointless...

Farah | 13 years ago | Reply He's apparently more powerful than Sonia Gandhi. Any figures/list that comes from the West is worth my acceptance not. The West falsifiedly and unnecessarily exaggerates India in the spheres of development and domination.

Nazir Habib | 13 years ago | Reply Since you are the 29th most powerful man in the world according to Forbes, then please accept my heartiest congratulations on this achievement and recognition. You deserve all accolades and entreaties for standing up against the Taliban and helping the country's rural areas during the flood. But what really matters is the recognition in Pakistan by its millions of citizens. Frankly it makes me wonder what good are you when there is so much civic disturbance and demoralization in the country. With salams and best wishes.

jahangir | 13 years ago | Reply kyani is not so good as you people r saying its his duty to help them he is not independent in his decisions then how can you say that he is powerful its quite funny man

Abdul Rauf khan | 13 years ago | Reply I think he should be on top ten because how he did with the help of army during the every day bomb blasting time in the Khyber Pakhtoon or in wazirastan and how he was doing with his command during the flood disaster time in pakistan even until now? He is still watching on our politician to do the good governance and they are worry and would be worry about his can take action on them.I don't know how Forbes management choose the peoples in the nos category. However, we are proud on him he is still saving our country for the sake of the peoples of Pakistan.Long live for him and for his country Pakistan. Abdul Rauf khan Toronto canada

Buckhorn | 13 years ago | Reply The General being so powerful and influential which I believe is well deserved, Should channel his authority in helping erradicate the corrupt official and politician and punish those guilty of fraud, theft against the nation. Its time someone with that much power, put it to good use.

Mohammed Abbasi | 13 years ago | Reply He is a good man and his passion remains a democratic Pakistan

kittu | 13 years ago | Reply Hmm..Its a recipe for disaster. Army personal should never be the powerful person in the country.

Zahid Hussain | 13 years ago | Reply A very careful review of the profile of the people listed on Forbes Power People 2010 reveals that there are only 12 names on the list who have genuinely contributed in or who can really make their countries and the world a better place to live. They are: 1: Hu Jintao: President of China - Proving that population is an element of national Power! 2: Angela Merke: Chancellor of Germany for successfully steering Germany out of Crisis 3: Sonia Gandhi / Manmohan Singh: President, Indian National Congress / Prime Minister 4: Bill Gates / Warren Buffett: Melinda and Gates Foundation / Unmatched Generosity 5: Larry Page / Sergey Brin: Co-Founders of Google Global Knowledge / Interaction Platform 6: Mark Zuckerberg: Controversial but Beautiful Face of the Facebook 7: Ruppert Murdoch: A Genuine Global Media Mughal 8: Lou Jiwei: China's Global Investment / Shopping Guru 9: Steve Jobs: Corporate Innovator Par Excellence The above personalities truly excercised POWER for political, social, economic, corporate and intellectual CHANGE. All other are working ONLY for THEMSELVES!

Muhammad Kamran Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Salute from the whole Pakistani Nation to General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Man of Principle. Long Live Pakistan Army.Long live General Kayani.

Ali Haider | 13 years ago | Reply I salute General Kyani. He is the man. Long live Pakistan Army.

Syed A. Mateen | 13 years ago | Reply The cool minded and soft spoken General has all the capabilities which the nation can expect in a Pakistani Army General. I am proud that Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kiyani stands on # 29 in the Forbes list in the queue. I wish that one day I will be able to meet him and congratulate him on the job which Pakistani Army has done during the flood relief.

Kamran | 13 years ago | Reply Funny how these lists never include any Israeli politicians, a country actively or covertly in the thick of some of the biggest global conflicts. A country who has the strongest political lobby in the US whether the democrats are in power or the republicans. Wonder why that is ?

G | 13 years ago | Reply Good for him...What can he do now for the land of the pure?

Nadir El Edroos | 13 years ago | Reply What is the point of the comparison with India and Sonia Gandhi. Well if hes the most powerful figure around and yet the country is facing so many challenges, corruption, loadshedding, inflation etc, that doesnt really say much about him.

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