I HAVE nothing against the Pakistanis living abroad. They are just as patriotic as anybody living in Pakistan. Many among my family and friends live abroad; mostly in the United States, Canada, Australia, and across Europe and the Gulf.

In 2017, about 8.8 million Pakistanis were estimated to be living abroad, and they were sending foreign remittances worth about $13 billion every year. Therefore, many are seen and heard arguing these days, they have the right to vote in Pakistan’s national elections. If this logic is accepted, then should the citizens of those countries who provide aid to Pakistan from their own tax money be allowed to vote in Pakistani elections as well?

This is not meant to hurt anyone’s feeling, but overseas Pakistanis send this money, not for the sake of Pakistan, but to support their families living here. Those who have no one in the country to support send nothing. They don’t have to and they don’t. Simple.

As overseas Pakistanis do not live in this country, they do not face the challenges that are faced on a daily basis by those who live here. And when they do not face these massive challenges, they surely have very little understanding, if any, about the ground reality. The ‘solutions’ they have in mind which they keep throwing at us from afar are at best superficial, if not laughable.

Therefore, they do not have the right to decide the fate of this country simply because they send in remittances.

Malik ul Quddoos
Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2021