THE Germans and the Japanese youth never condemn their nation for defeat in World War II. In fact, they respect their men for doing their best in defending their motherland. They have a sense of pride for men who fought for the country.

In contrast, it seems to be in our genes to be critical of the country, all its ins-

itutions and its political leadership. Whether it is a protest within the country, or on some foreign land, Pakistanis and foreign nationals of Pakistani origin do not even think twice before maligning and attacking the government and its institutions.

Some expatriates supporting Pakistan’s main opposition party, who are doing well in life and who decided to settle in another country at their own free will for a better quality of life, and having no stakes in the country of their origin after taking the oath of allegiance of the adopted country, proudly run smear campaigns against the country of their birth.

For this purpose, they leave no stone unturned to damage Pakistan. They engage the services of expensive lobbying firms, which help in mobilising opinion, and in facilitating the passing of resolutions in that country’s legislature, condemning institutions and systems of another sovereign country.

Besides, some other expatriate ‘fans’ of that particular political party gleefully and blithely celebrate the occasion as a ‘great achievement’, without realising the consequences. In fact, they do not realise how much damage this would cause to Pakistan, a country they supposedly ‘love’.

Now, here is a pertinent question for such expatriates: when they so strongly advocate the cause of democracy, adamantly preach freedom of expression, deliver sermons about the rule of law, and defend the right to protest against their own country of birth, will they engage similar lobbyists to voice their concerns about the atrocities being committed against their fellow Muslim brethren in Gaza and parts of the West Bank?

Unfortunately, well over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the last one year, including 10,000 infants and children. I dare these Pakistani expatriates to move a resolution in the American or British legislatures, condemning Israel for the crimes being committed by the Zionist state. Will they do it? They will not, and we know why.

Furthermore, if the expatriates are so concerned and in pain about the affairs of their former homeland, why do they not renounce their acquired nationality, return home and fight against what they perceive as injustices in their motherland?

As things stand, the expatriates take the liberty to sully the country by taking the cover of being a dual national.

For their information, such facilities are rarely extended to citizens elsewhere. Take the example of India, our next-door neighbour.

Ironically, just give me an example of people who have protested outside the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or any lending agency’s headquarters for providing loans following an economic collapse brought by their own leader only to create difficulties for the rival political party in power. What should we call such acts on foreign soil?

Khaled
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2024