DAWN.COM | Encounter | The predicament of expatriates
THE saga of Pakistani diaspora began in 1970s with the beginning of the era of petro-dollars in the Gulf and Saudi Arabia in the wake of massive construction activity attracting Pakistanis labour to these destinations.
The government of the day felt absolved of its duty and commitment and instead of creating an infrastructure ensuring large job opportunities, it encouraged the citizens, skilled or otherwise, to leave for greener pastures. The exodus of the educated and technical unemployed youth solved the employment problem and the Dubai-chalo syndrome created a frenzy for leaving the shores of Pakistan. Soon the number of expatriate Pakistanis swelled to millions and they became a hefty source of foreign exchange earnings, now amounting to almost $10 billion per annum.
While these opportunities brought much-sought prosperity for the dependents of the workers, none cared about the extremely hard, in many cases horrible, conditions in which these people worked. The unscrupulous agents and bureaucrats indulged in human trafficking, with connivance of all so-called law-enforcing agencies. The phenomenon of fake passports, visas and illegal crossing into foreign countries spread like a cancer in society. A mafia composed of FIA, immigration officials, PIA and other related agencies became operative with impunity, fleecing the poor who ventured into hazardous journeys to unknown lands after paying huge amounts. The criminal conduct of the mafia did not receive the attention until 9/11 when security factor became a dominant, almost obsessive, element with foreign countries.
The foreign governments applied harsh regulations for immigrants at the airports and other entry points. Those living within the country were also subjected to severe security checks and quite a few instances of deportation of Pakistanis on grounds of illegal entry or stay became the norm.
The problem now has reached epidemic proportions. Official reports have indicated horrendous figures. In the year 2004, from Muskat alone, 10,294 job seekers were deported; last year, the number increased 12,600. These people were smuggled to Oman by crossing Pak-Iran border illegally through Balochistan. Most of these deportees returned in pathetic conditions, both mental and physical, as they were kept in prison under harsh conditions, before deportation.
According to official statistics, during last two years, a total of 87,963 Pakistanis were deported from 34 countries and another 658 were detained in 13 European countries. The number of detainees in UK alone is 360 on various charges, such as illegal documents or overstay.
The War on Terror, in which Pakistan has become the frontline state, also paradoxically put Pakistanis in the dangerous or unwanted category as evident from the attitude of most countries. On slight suspicion, Pakistanis have been detained, harassed and even killed. In Macedonia, in 2002, eleven Pakistanis were shot dead for illegally crossing the border.
Recently, there has been a scandal in Greece where 22 legally resident Pakistanis were arrested, interrogated and tortured by British intelligence authorities in the wake of 7/7 events in London. Initially, the British refuted the allegations of M16 involvement, but later admitted when the media came out with more details and evidence.
The net result of these incidents has been that now an average Pakistan is a persona non grata, an object of suspicion and target of humiliation and intimidation, with no avenue, national or international, to turn to for justice.
This inhuman behaviour and unlawful attitude is not only limited to the US and Europe, but even in Malaysia and Thailand, similar stories have surfaced; 187 Pakistanis are facing criminal charges in Malaysia. More than a hundred Pakistanis are languishing in jails in Thailand and the agreement to deport them to Pakistan is caught in red-tapism.
The story of 15,000 kid jockeys from Rahim Yar Khan employed in the Gulf States is shocking and shameful. According to a study by a Swedish NGO, children employed as jockeys for camel races, between the ages of 5 to10 years and weighing less than 25 kg, are subjected to inhuman treatment to keep their weight less. The therapy includes electric shocks, 15-20 times daily. Often their heads are held under water at intervals of 20-30 times daily to get their weight reduced. Such inhuman stories are legions. The brutal practices recently invited attention of the human rights NGO and UAE was forced to give compensation to the affected families and has also stopped the sport.
This brief but disturbing account of maltreatment of Pakistanis demand most urgent and effective measures by the government, which merely pays lip-service to the expatriates for their contribution to Pakistans economy.
Recently parliament was informed that there are 2145 Pakistani in prisons abroad on charges of drug trafficking. Of them 693 are in UAE, 567 in Saudi Arabia, 231 in Kuwait and 131 in China. While on immigration violation 935 Pakistanis have been arrested; of them 175 are in China and 162 in Saudi Arabia. Several Pakistanis are reportedly languishing in Bagram and Pul-i-Charkhi prisons in Afghanistan.
The issue of Pakistanis abroad has become burning subject with Aafia Siddiquis case. The agonising case has put the government in a spot and exposed its total failure to protect the interest of its citizens. Aafia, an MIT neuro-scientist, has gone through most despicable and horrible treatment, since her arrest in most mysterious circumstances. She was convicted and sentence for life, last month. The Aafia case represents the dark side of rulers lack of concern and of their obligations.
The silver lining on this unfortunate episode is the role of Supreme Court. A three member bench dealing with missing Pakistani has made a telling observation. Pakistan nationals are jailed just like that, without any uproar but a hue and cry is raised and adverse reaction comes whenever a foreigner is detained even for a minute here (Pakistan).
Our leaders keep shouting from the rooftop that Pakistan is a nuclear power, the second largest Muslim nation and an Islamic republic. The truth is that ours is not even a humane republic, let alone Islamic, where justice is denied to its citizens and discrimination, even cruelty, by foreign employers does not evoke any compassion or concern. Nations achieve respect and recognition for protection of their citizens and rule of law and not just by becoming a nuclear power.
The writer is a former ambassador.
THE saga of Pakistani diaspora began in 1970s with the beginning of the era of petro-dollars in the Gulf and Saudi Arabia in the wake of massive construction activity attracting Pakistanis labour to these destinations.
The government of the day felt absolved of its duty and commitment and instead of creating an infrastructure ensuring large job opportunities, it encouraged the citizens, skilled or otherwise, to leave for greener pastures. The exodus of the educated and technical unemployed youth solved the employment problem and the Dubai-chalo syndrome created a frenzy for leaving the shores of Pakistan. Soon the number of expatriate Pakistanis swelled to millions and they became a hefty source of foreign exchange earnings, now amounting to almost $10 billion per annum.
While these opportunities brought much-sought prosperity for the dependents of the workers, none cared about the extremely hard, in many cases horrible, conditions in which these people worked. The unscrupulous agents and bureaucrats indulged in human trafficking, with connivance of all so-called law-enforcing agencies. The phenomenon of fake passports, visas and illegal crossing into foreign countries spread like a cancer in society. A mafia composed of FIA, immigration officials, PIA and other related agencies became operative with impunity, fleecing the poor who ventured into hazardous journeys to unknown lands after paying huge amounts. The criminal conduct of the mafia did not receive the attention until 9/11 when security factor became a dominant, almost obsessive, element with foreign countries.
The foreign governments applied harsh regulations for immigrants at the airports and other entry points. Those living within the country were also subjected to severe security checks and quite a few instances of deportation of Pakistanis on grounds of illegal entry or stay became the norm.
The problem now has reached epidemic proportions. Official reports have indicated horrendous figures. In the year 2004, from Muskat alone, 10,294 job seekers were deported; last year, the number increased 12,600. These people were smuggled to Oman by crossing Pak-Iran border illegally through Balochistan. Most of these deportees returned in pathetic conditions, both mental and physical, as they were kept in prison under harsh conditions, before deportation.
According to official statistics, during last two years, a total of 87,963 Pakistanis were deported from 34 countries and another 658 were detained in 13 European countries. The number of detainees in UK alone is 360 on various charges, such as illegal documents or overstay.
The War on Terror, in which Pakistan has become the frontline state, also paradoxically put Pakistanis in the dangerous or unwanted category as evident from the attitude of most countries. On slight suspicion, Pakistanis have been detained, harassed and even killed. In Macedonia, in 2002, eleven Pakistanis were shot dead for illegally crossing the border.
Recently, there has been a scandal in Greece where 22 legally resident Pakistanis were arrested, interrogated and tortured by British intelligence authorities in the wake of 7/7 events in London. Initially, the British refuted the allegations of M16 involvement, but later admitted when the media came out with more details and evidence.
The net result of these incidents has been that now an average Pakistan is a persona non grata, an object of suspicion and target of humiliation and intimidation, with no avenue, national or international, to turn to for justice.
This inhuman behaviour and unlawful attitude is not only limited to the US and Europe, but even in Malaysia and Thailand, similar stories have surfaced; 187 Pakistanis are facing criminal charges in Malaysia. More than a hundred Pakistanis are languishing in jails in Thailand and the agreement to deport them to Pakistan is caught in red-tapism.
The story of 15,000 kid jockeys from Rahim Yar Khan employed in the Gulf States is shocking and shameful. According to a study by a Swedish NGO, children employed as jockeys for camel races, between the ages of 5 to10 years and weighing less than 25 kg, are subjected to inhuman treatment to keep their weight less. The therapy includes electric shocks, 15-20 times daily. Often their heads are held under water at intervals of 20-30 times daily to get their weight reduced. Such inhuman stories are legions. The brutal practices recently invited attention of the human rights NGO and UAE was forced to give compensation to the affected families and has also stopped the sport.
This brief but disturbing account of maltreatment of Pakistanis demand most urgent and effective measures by the government, which merely pays lip-service to the expatriates for their contribution to Pakistans economy.
Recently parliament was informed that there are 2145 Pakistani in prisons abroad on charges of drug trafficking. Of them 693 are in UAE, 567 in Saudi Arabia, 231 in Kuwait and 131 in China. While on immigration violation 935 Pakistanis have been arrested; of them 175 are in China and 162 in Saudi Arabia. Several Pakistanis are reportedly languishing in Bagram and Pul-i-Charkhi prisons in Afghanistan.
The issue of Pakistanis abroad has become burning subject with Aafia Siddiquis case. The agonising case has put the government in a spot and exposed its total failure to protect the interest of its citizens. Aafia, an MIT neuro-scientist, has gone through most despicable and horrible treatment, since her arrest in most mysterious circumstances. She was convicted and sentence for life, last month. The Aafia case represents the dark side of rulers lack of concern and of their obligations.
The silver lining on this unfortunate episode is the role of Supreme Court. A three member bench dealing with missing Pakistani has made a telling observation. Pakistan nationals are jailed just like that, without any uproar but a hue and cry is raised and adverse reaction comes whenever a foreigner is detained even for a minute here (Pakistan).
Our leaders keep shouting from the rooftop that Pakistan is a nuclear power, the second largest Muslim nation and an Islamic republic. The truth is that ours is not even a humane republic, let alone Islamic, where justice is denied to its citizens and discrimination, even cruelty, by foreign employers does not evoke any compassion or concern. Nations achieve respect and recognition for protection of their citizens and rule of law and not just by becoming a nuclear power.
The writer is a former ambassador.
