Dr. Umar Khan
Dr. Khan belongs to a Lahore based Think Tank.
12-11-16
Pakistan, country or a hunting ground?
A few hours before the next governor was to take oath
Ishratul Ibad Khan flew out of the country to Dubai. He had been the Governor of
Sind for 14 years despite very serious allegations including murder, torture,
extortion and corruption. He was living abroad and came back home to be the
governor and when he was ousted he bode goodbye. He is no exception, before him
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also flew off immediately after completion of his
term while involving in some very dubious policies including investing billions
in CNG for cars while we didn’t have enough for basic industry or domestic
purpose. Naturally he couldn’t be questioned. Earlier PM Moeen Qureshi also
landed just for a brief period to rule. Some of our rulers were more courageous
and spent a few days not being in government and left later like Zardari and
Musharraf. The interesting thing is that all these ruling class people became
richer after their stint in power. It appears that a class has developed that
doesn’t see Pakistan as a country of 180 million people rather some kind of
wild west or a hunting ground to making fortunes, all this at the expense of
its people.
This unfortunate tendency is not limited to the ruling party
as many opposition parties are also based abroad. PPP of Zardari is effectively
controlled from Dubai, MQM of Altaf Hussain from London for more than a quarter
century with its target killers in SA, and even Musharraf is trying to operate
politically from Dubai.
Most of our bureaucratic and military leadership also
carries a foreign citizenship and leaves Pakistan immediately after retirement
when more illegitimate money making becomes unlikely. Admiral Mansoor and Gen
Zahid after minting millions went abroad and got sanitized after paying a
fraction to NAB. These are just a few examples and if we search the pockets of
rich and mighty we will find most with foreign passports hidden. This situation
has created many shady expatriate businessmen joining in the golden dip like
Mansur Ejaz and Saifur Rehman, who only jump in to collect their share maintaining
tremendous arrogance.
Cabinet meetings of Sind provincial government are regularly
held abroad aa are most important decisions of ruling N League explaining PMs
numerous trips to UK. This gives a feeling of Pakistan being ruled from abroad
by another profit seeking East India Company manned by darker skinned people
this time with lower scruples and increased arrogance.
Most of these foreign based rulers of Pakistan keep all
savings and investments abroad too. Some of them might not have been caught by
now as Nawaz and family are with Panama leaks, but most probably have foreign
accounts and properties acquired through corruption and looting of Pakistan.
This along with their progeny settled abroad reduces their stakes in longevity
or well-being of Pakistan and it shows. Their lack of concern for Pakistan and
its people is all too obvious.
This has resulted in Pakistan going downhill for the last
many decades. Exports have gone down and debt is rising. This is even though we
live in a blessed country enjoying a fabulous location and natural resources.
We have one of the highest illiteracy rates and malnourished children despite
having one of the most fertile land and ample water. It might be true that like
Congo and other African countries we have allowed our blessings to be our
enemies. This trend of being ruled by foreigners of color must end if Pakistan
wishes to rid of its problems and find a respectable place in the world.
First, we should start treating economic crimes and
corruption at par with the most heinous crimes like murder and terrorism. It
has been established that corruption/economic terrorism causes more deaths and
sufferings than terrorism or any other crime. We admire and follow China in
many fields and might be well advised to follow them here too with dispensing
capital punishment to the economic terrorists. Our poor and downtrodden
certainly deserve justice.
Secondly we must make a policy not to let people with a
foreign nationality or investments abroad get at the helm of our affairs. If somehow
someone gets into that position secretly he should be punished like other
crimes per the law. We just can’t afford to have people making decision who
don’t have any stakes in our society.
Thirdly, we can make a law to bar bureaucrats, army
officers, politicians and other holders of high offices from going and settling
abroad for at least 10 years after retirement. During this period their
performance should be investigated and they should be further rewarded if found
deserving or otherwise. They must not be allowed to slip away until they clear
their accounts.
There are two kinds of Pakistani expats, 1st kind
are the most numerous hardworking patriotic Pakistanis who are more concerned
for the well-being of their place of birth than most of Pakistani residents.
These patriots are doing a lot for running Pakistan’s economy and serving its
diplomatic interests. They earn abroad and send money back home, over $20 billion
annually. For comparison, I must remind that US has been giving 1.5B and making
us fight its wars, getting people killed and listen to its ‘do more” rhetoric.
Our current prosperity is substantially dependent on this largesse. A blessing
to have this group of people. These patriotic Pakistanis deserve voting rights,
dignified treatment and ease of travel to their home country. Their property
and investments need to be secured too. We owe a lot to them.
Then there is another group mentioned above that takes
Pakistani money out of the country, mostly earned illegally. They have
predatorial instincts and have eaten their country of birth hollow. Making
illegitimate money is bad, but taking it out is worse as it shrinks the economy
making everyone suffer. With their stakes in other countries, some of them
hostile towards Pakistan, they serve the purpose of others along with their
personal. They might be great bullies in Pakistan but abroad they are the most
pliable because foreign governments are aware of their weaknesses including ill-gotten
wealth. They routinely make money in Pakistan and take it abroad, again
illegally. They are bleeding Pakistan and we can afford it.
We must take our future back from the clutches of foreigners
of all shades and types. Must declare that Pakistan is a country of 180 million
intelligent and hardworking people and not a “game”. Must not let another East
India Company loot us again. For this must follow the age-old principle of not
allowing the captain of the ship jump first or the pilot of a passenger airplane
eject out for his personal safety while risking the lives of others. Pakistan should
be managed by people whose future and stakes are tied with their country.
During this we must protect our country from predators and
vultures who are always looking for their share of flesh.
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