I am a fellow overseas Pakistani doctor residing in the UK.
From the very start I was highly skeptical of the ability and promises of PTI and Mr Imran Khan to establish a “naya” Pakistan. While Mr Khan may have always been a revolutionary leader in opposition. However, successfully governing a country requires years of prior working experience in government and bureaucracy.
Unfortunately as far as my knowledge is concerned Mr Khan never had prior working experience in the government and bureaucracy prior to 2018.
In my opinion the “Naya Pakistan” was born in the late evening of 7th April 2022 when the Supreme Court gave it’s verdict for the blocking of the initial no confidence vote and dissolution of parliament as unconstitutional. This “Naya Pakistan” witnessed the supremacy of the rule of law and the judiciary over arbitrary executive decisions by the Treasury and federal government of Mr Imran Khan.
I do not wish to delve into the legality or otherwise of Mr Khan’s ascension to the post of Prime Minister in 2018.
He may have barely started to understand the mechanics of government when COVID-19 pandemic struck the world all of a sudden.There was always bound to be economic losses in Pakistan from the local and global lockdowns.
Unfortunately in my personal opinion Mr Khan’s leadership style was always very dismissive and combative with other political players. The appointment of Mr Usman Buzdar as CM Punjab was the most politically devastating to the PTI and the people of Punjab despite the presence and availability of more capable candidates. Many senior and grassroot level workers in the PTI constantly advised Mr Khan to replace Mr Buzdar with another capable character. Unfortunately I believe Mr khan wanted to remotely control Punjab with a weak and controllable personality rather than take the risk of a strong Punjab CM becoming a political challenger for the post of Prime Minister at a later stage.
The economy under the PTI and Mr Khan had deteriorated from its previous state in 2018. This fact cannot be denied except by conspiracy theorists.
The very basic and simple reason why Pakistan has always had a cash reserve liquidity problem is people point blank refuse to pay their honest share of taxes. The politicians have always been corrupt. But the country is highly dependent on IMF USA UK Saudi Arabia China for money to survive. That’s why Islamabad has always had to “follow” foreign orders otherwise declare national bankruptcy.
I saw a video clip of George Galloway addressing PTI supporters in a UK venue denouncing the removal of the government of Mr Khan. The crowd were only shouting in approval for George’s comments on his refusal to accept Pakistan as a subservient tstate to foreign actors. Unfortunately nobody in these patriotic Pakistani rallies has the courage to speak the truth to the hopeless crowd and mob.
The reasons why Pakistan is the way it is resides within the Pakistani population. If the population refuses to honestly pay taxes then the government does not depend nor care about governance. Besides, the population has always physically given birth to the politicians. These people did not descend from the moon and stars.
This hypocrisy and behaviour is another manifestation of the people’s refusal to honestly accept, own and take responsibility for the daily crises in the country.
A lot of overseas Pakistanis have supported and continue to religiously adore Mr Khan while steadfastly refusing to live in Pakistan beyond a couple of weeks and always ensuring their careers, assets and kids are kept outside Pakistan. Their noble intentions, hopes and aspirations are confined to spoken and written words. Maybe some money transfers and donations come through. But the harsh reality is unless you are willing to physically place yourself, your money and kids where your mouths and words lie to make changes and improvements in the country nothing gets realised. Leadership requires a constant physical presence on the ground. In my opinion and observation most of the educated and talented overseas Pakistanis miserably fail on this requirement of leadership. Their kids are only genetic Pakistanis. The Pakistani identities of the children of overseas diaspora starts and pretty much ends with the biryanis, qoormas and shalwar qameez.
Seriously, I can’t understand who will try to make government business more clean when the educated middle class struggle to survive and/or abandon the country at the first opportunity and then refuse to return at all. Without this educated class of people residing and working for the country Pakistan will always remain in crisis mode.
My fellow overseas Pakistanis- stop talking. Buy your one way tickets back to Pakistan for yourself and all of your family members to build the Naya Pakistan you have been talking and shouting about for a very long time. Talk is always worthless. Take action now for what it’s worth. Make the investment in time, money and lives for your Naya Pakistan to be realised.
Again my fellow overseas Pakistanis- stop looking for saviors in Pakistan while permanently living abroad. Pakistan needs less saviors and more independent and incorruptible institutions and government agencies staffed with fully qualified professionals to pursue corrupt people inside and outside the country based on solid evidence and prosecutions. I am proud of Pakistan as an Islamic federal republic. I am proud Pakistan has survived despite having heinous governments and policies in the past. It’s time to learn and emulate the strong investigation agencies and judicial systems in other federal republics to successfully take corrupt people and organizations to court to recover stolen funds and assets in Pakistan and abroad.
Pakistanis urgently need to stop trying to be the sole saviour of Islam and Muslims and try to quietly and honestly try to make the country a survivable place for everyone.
Before anyone comments on my current country of residence (UK): I fully intend to permanently return to live in Pakistan within the next 3 years with my family.
I hope to launch and host an English speaking online podcast to invite political actors and academics to have honest and open discussions on the politics and social issues in Pakistan. Any comments and suggestions on this project is most welcome in this podcast’s email address.
Thank you for reading my two paisa worth of comments on the prevailing affairs and conditions in our beautiful country. May Allah bless the people and soil of Pakistan and grant us the qualities of honesty, loyalty, patience, leadership and fierce devotion towards our country to take us towards a better future.
Thank you.
Dr Mohamed Ahmed
England
UK
Email: Pakpolitics365@gmail.com
