Right to vote for overseas Pakistanis

“No taxation without representation” should be our motto

“No taxation without representation” was a cry that became a political movement and eventually caused the birth of the United States of America. The premise was that the rulers have no reason to collect any money through taxation unless there is the right to vote and representation in government. Overseas Pakistanis are in a similar situation, despite several court instructions and many false promises they still have no right to vote, unless they travel all the way to their respective constituencies. The right to elect who will represent you is the most basic tenants of democracy, yet Pakistan rules exclude Overseas Pakistani from this.

An estimated nine million Pakistanis (including your author) live overseas. Annual remittances for 2016 is estimated at US $ nineteen billion of much needed foreign exchange. Given that each individual on average supports over five persons it is estimated that over fifty million persons are dependent on those earning. Eighty percent of Pakistani expats living in Saudi and seventy percent of those living in UAE (where the bulk of remittances originate) are on single status – since often they cannot afford to bring their families over. As a result they and their families cannot share the joys of festive occasions, or support on sad occasions.

Let’s compare them with, say, APTMA -the textile associate- the total textile exports stand at approximately fifteen billion, but look at the clout and benefits APTMA members receive from the state, as compared to, say, a laborer working in Riyadh? Industrialists routinely avoid taxes, squirrel away money in overseas accounts and most importantly: bribe, lobby or brown nose with politicians which is why in the eyes of the state, they are the right kind of Pakistanis.

On contrast, despite considerable sacrifice, overseas Pakistanis – in the eyes of the state, at least – do not deserve any representation because honest hard work, not paying bribes, and sending money home is frowned upon in Pakistan and certainly not worthy of the right to vote.

“Recently a journalist tweeted comparing a politician’s naiveté to “an uncle who moved to Canada but then insists on explaining what’s wrong with Pakistan” – implying that people who move overseas have no understanding or right to comment on what’s going on in the country, whilst corrupt industrialists, politicians or bureaucrats who live by working the system have full rights to do so.”

Unlike APTMA members who are pampered by the government, a person traveling overseas for employment has no official support. There are a record fourteen different checks from entering an airport in Pakistan till when you are seated in your airplane seat. At each stage a potential laborer travelling overseas is continuously harassed by the police, ASF, ANF, FIA and the airline, with little appreciation for the trepidations of what a person himself travelling overseas for the first time, might be going through. For example: for KSA filling in of landing cards is mandatory, yet no one tries to offer these services here before boarding, leaving the passenger – who often can’t write in English – running form pillar to post upon arriving at the destination. By comparison, in the Philippines all overseas guest workers have to go through training and orientation courses before they are allowed to travel. I believe there is an Overseas Pakistan Foundation, but apart from running schools and employing bureaucracy it is mysterious as to exactly what it is that they do.

Rafiq was a diligent highway engineer from Hyderabad working in Al Kharj in Saudi Arabia. His pride was his bright daughter whom he hoped would study medicine, like many others securing a future for his children was the main reason why he left his home in Latifabad. One night he suffered a massive heart attack and never woke up. His distraught wife had to single handedly organize sending his body home, packing up the house and picking up the pieces of her life. Although passionate about Pakistani politics, Rafiq who followed many talk shows had never voted in any elections since moving to Saudi – because he was the wrong kind of Pakistani – the kind who had left their homeland to seek a better future.

In Pakistan, generally people who work overseas are denigrated and deemed as unworthy of being full members of society. Recently a journalist tweeted comparing a politician’s naiveté to “an uncle who moved to Canada but then insists on explaining what’s wrong with Pakistan” – implying that people who move overseas have no understanding or right to comment on what’s going on in the country, whilst corrupt industrialists, politicians or bureaucrats who live by working the system have full rights to do so.

In an age where now patwaris are using keyboards, surely it is not beyond the wit on man or woman (since it is my firm belief that this is the decade of Pakistani women) to ensure a mechanism for Overseas Pakistani for voting in elections.  A number of countries have postal ballots particularly countries like Australia and Singapore where voting is mandatory. The persons’ verification can be done biometrically.

When I renewed my passport at the Pakistani consulate in Dubai as part of the application procedure, my identity was verified biometrically with the NADRA database in Islamabad. When I biometrically verified my SIM it was done using a device that was linked via the telephone to the NADRA database. Therefore to say that it is technically not possible for overseas Pakistani to vote in an election is pure bunkum. Especially in an age where if you SMS your NIC number, you will be advised regarding your registered polling station.

“What is more appalling is the duplicity of political parties in continually allowing this to happen. Whereas not much was expected from PML-N and PPP, it is PTI that has been most disappointing. Having collected millions in donations from overseas Pakistani under the guise of change, by not striving in parliament for their right to vote, it has led all of them down the proverbial garden path.”

What is more appalling is the duplicity of political parties in continually allowing this to happen. Whereas not much was expected from PML-N and PPP, it is PTI that has been most disappointing. Having collected millions in donations from overseas Pakistani under the guise of change, by not striving in parliament for their right to vote, it has led all of them down the proverbial garden path.

Like the founding fathers – I too will refuse to donate to any political party or political cause until we get the right to vote and I hope that all my fellow overseas Pakistani will join me in this. “No Donation without Representation” shall be my moto.