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Overseas Pakistanis and locals go head to head on Twitter again

Overseas Pakistanis and locals go head to head on Twitter again

In the latest rift, locals remind their overseas compatriots of how much they too would love Pakistan from a distance.
08 May, 2021

Locals and the Pakistani diaspora have had multiple face-offs over the years and the topic of their disagreements are often reflective of how separated and removed overseas Pakistanis are from the situation back home in what has become a familiar yet exoticised vacation spot for them.

Overseas Pakistanis often sing praises of the Pakistani state and government and often form their opinions based on sensationalised news reports. For them, there's a sense of romance attached to home and they often view Pakistan with a certain sense of guilty patriotism or defensive nationalism.

Locals contest their assertions and mostly view the diaspora as those with no idea of what's happening at home, but seeking to contribute with claims that contradict the reports from those living through it.

The latest rift began after Prime Minister Imran Khan, who enjoys considerable support among Pakistanis abroad, took note of complaints against the mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

A presidential ordinance was also recently passed to install the technology necessary to help the diaspora take part in local elections. Overseas Pakistanis were overjoyed on Twitter.

Similar tweets started populating Pakistani feeds. The locals got a sniff of it, and they weren't going to let this slide.

They, again, reminded the diaspora of their distance from home.

Well...that's true though

Journalist Afia Salam made them an offer.

Or you could be as straightforward as this user.

Do not contradict those that are living through the situation in Pakistan, insists this user.

Is this the last of the diaspora versus local rift? Probably not. Will the diaspora finally get the point? Probably not. Is this the last time we're going to write an article on this issue? Probably not.

Comments

Tahir A May 08, 2021 09:37pm
I am an overseas Pakistani living in Karachi for the last three years. It doesn’t matter where one is living as long one is sincere. Just living in a place doesn’t make you any more patriotic, especially if you are offering to swap places telling us that you were here because you didn’t have an opportunity to get out. With that mindset, please do not pretend that you care about this country more than the overseas Pakistanis.
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Tahir Raouf May 08, 2021 09:45pm
If they have so much love for the country then why they left the country, regarding remittances- they are sending these to their families keeping in view the interest and exchange rates. Tell them to come and face the ground realities.
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Zak May 08, 2021 11:06pm
if you’re an overseas Pakistani please express your love and longing for your country without speaking over the experiences of people living (and often suffering) there If you all keep voting for crooks like PML n and PPP as in Daska and NA 249, then don't blame overseas Pakistanis, who are trying to help elect honest PTI to clean up the mess you all voted in for past 30 years.
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Aatif May 08, 2021 11:14pm
Over seas Pakistanis are as PAKISTANI as you and me. They DESERVE the right to vote.
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Nk May 08, 2021 11:58pm
Locals contest their assertions and mostly view the diaspora as those with no idea of what's happening at home. In my opinion locals and the overseas Pakistanis both were never bothered about the state of affairs of the country inspite of the fact that the country was looted for' Thirty Years' by Zardari and the Shareef's. Do we have one single example of any of the local or overseas coming out against those looters. We the overseas Pakistanis just sat as lame ducks watching the situation from a distance while the locals with no sense of responsibility kept voting for the looters in exchange of biryanis and petty cash and continues to do so in the byelection
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Haris May 09, 2021 12:43am
Take away the voting rights of Pakistanis living in the country. Otherwise, they will vote Bhutto and Sharifs again.
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SAk May 09, 2021 01:53am
90% of expats are in foreign countries to support their families not able to see their loved ones for years. And mind you dollars don’t grow on trees and most of them are enjoying much less joys compared to us living with their loved ones with a constant fear of loosing jobs and being kicked out of their “counties”. So please be sympathetic before criticizing their patriotism and hope.
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Shahmeer May 09, 2021 07:06am
overseas pakistani send remittance to their family not to pakistan. if their family move to congo then they will send money to congo not to pakistan. PM should be more worried about people who lives in pakistan and pay taxes.
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AJ May 09, 2021 07:23am
You have created the current situation through your poor choices.
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AJ May 09, 2021 07:24am
You need a lot of hard work and dedication to make it out of Pakistsn. If you had that you would not still be there
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Ifti Malik May 09, 2021 08:16am
The votes for expat Pakistanis plan is open to the biggest electoral abuse , ever . Having destroyed Pakistan , the fascist PTI now wants to try and come back in future elections through the back door .
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Jaredlee007 May 09, 2021 09:54am
Overseas Pakistanis view Pakistan as their homeland. And local Pakistanis want to become overseas Pakistanis. Sad that we've to leave our homeland and go abroad so that we can love our homeland.
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Chrís Dăn May 09, 2021 12:02pm
@Tahir A very true.
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F Nawaz May 09, 2021 12:52pm
I live in Pakistan and know that once you switch off the TV, its not so bad, just like a few tweets, from among 230 million, does not mean that the overseas and locals are fighting. This should be the last time you write about this 'issue'.
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Sabah May 09, 2021 01:42pm
The overseas Pakistanis need to make an effort to build Pakistan's image in the countries they live in. Mostly our communities are viewed as ghettos which refuse to integrate and perpetuate the worst of the cultures from back home. As opposed to other communities who contribute skilled workforce, mind the law of the country they live in and contribute towards their society.
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Haris May 09, 2021 02:21pm
I have seen many of fellow countrymen crying in solace and looking for support within Pakistani community after leaving the homeland. It's as difficult to live outside the country as it is living inside the country nowadays.
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Fast comment May 09, 2021 02:58pm
Be it PTI, PPP or PML(N) only vote to that party, which seriously promises to provide good AQI ( Air Quality Index) alongwith weather news it should announce AQI. (2) Rule of law (3) No discrimination (4) No nepotism, favoritism, corruption. Vote or no vote, the overseas diaspora will be more than happy, if these few recommendations accepted.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad May 09, 2021 04:18pm
A step in the right direction but still a long way to go before they could actually take part in voting and the voting process in the general elections in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
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Sameer May 09, 2021 05:27pm
Overseas Pakistanis left because of PMLN and PPP policies, the rest will leave because of PTIs. We will finally find peace when those left here are the ones who endured everything of all parties for the green and white of the flag. Pak Zindabad.
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Afaq Sher May 09, 2021 07:29pm
Overseas Pakistanis want to contribute for better meant of the nation and people. We want to see improvement in the social standard of the ordinary people may our vote help in this way. We had seen and tested how these things are maintained in especially in the developed countries. Some of them commented that remittances we send to our family, yes indeed but do you notice our family when spending them it contribute to the Pakistani economy. It helps also helps in the foreign exchange reserve. Toronto Canada
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Afaq Sher May 09, 2021 07:30pm
@Tahir Raouf if you have the opportunity you will take the first flight out of Pakistan.
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AJ May 09, 2021 07:37pm
Only PML N supporters don’t want voting rights for overseas Pakistanis. Probably Shahbaz thinks the whole world has rejected non resident voting as well....all civilized countries allow their expats to vote...
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Ibrahim May 09, 2021 09:02pm
When Pakistani live for a few years outside Pakistan , their brain rational cells regenerate .
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Ehsan May 10, 2021 03:31am
All should be cherished and respected, we should find ways to work together without denigrating one another
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Fawad bhai May 10, 2021 10:41pm
So what do Pakistanis living in Pakistan expect overseas pakistanis to say instead? How pathetic it is and how they are glad they arent living there anymore? The fact that there are still thousands voting to corrupt parties show there is no hope. Not sure why IK is still trying to right a ship that wants to sink. He should just go overseas and live his life.
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Hassan May 11, 2021 08:36pm
There is nothing wrong with the overseas Pakistanis tweets. It seems as if locals are just envious and want to change there position with them
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