Every Christmas and Thanksgiving, the US first family lead by President is seen serving dinner or lunch to homeless. Similarly all across Europe, Asia, Australia and American continent, the ruling political elite and opposition parties are seen to be involved in symbolic gestures on important religious festivities such as Christmas. In Arab countries and rest of Muslim world stretching from Far East, Africa to Bosnia, their heads of state always celebrate Eid within their countries. Thousands of our expatriates working in Gulf, Middle East etc pay a premium to travel back home inspite of their meager resources to celebrate Eid with their families.
It is unfortunate to see this disconnect between rulers and ruled even on occasions like Eid. As Eid nears, our ruling elite, both in power and opposition, would be seen flying out of Pakistan to celebrate the day with their families living abroad. For these people Pakistan is an ideal country to rule while in power but no longer a place suitable to be called home for themselves or their family members, when not in power. They will head to their new found adopted homes to spend Eid with their sons and daughters living there in palatial villas. Emotions like local patriotism to place of birth is replaced with their love for huge assets located in their adopted places of residence. This disconnect is very dangerous.
MALIK TARIQ
Lahore
