Overseas Pakistanis and Right of Franchise

I am not sure this 8 million number is accurate.

Anyway when poor resident of the country are deprived of their constitutional rights and often the results of their votes are rigged, asking for vote rights for the non resident appears too stupid.

Non residents can only vote via mail and it takes lots of effort and money to arrange that. Army only has money for its own use and not for vote rights. Lastly, most of the non resident even when they live in the country barely vote.

There is no need to become like the Indian NRIs that are too arrogant and believe that people at home in India are stupid. NRI regularly disrespect poor Indians in India.
There is no need to be like them or make ridiculous demands on people of Pakistan that are already struggling!

I think there are at least 7mio Pakistani expats... but they repatriate about USD 5bio per annum. This is the same USD number that the Bangaldeshis expats presently repatriate. Phillipines is an exception, they too have about 7mio overseas workers but they repatriate about USD 12bio.

Unfortunately, we are not creating a country where the best brains and matached with capital. Our benchmark should not be to increase the the remittances; it should be to retain the best and the brightest at home. Look at the way Ireland has trasformed, from a "remittance economy" they have become a real economy.

I think Pakistanis would love to come back but contract law is too poor in the country. People like Mushrraf talk about the the real economy, spin doctoring ad nauseum .. but they have done nothing to address brain drain in Pakitan.

Pakistanis abraod would come back with their talent and capital if there was rule of law in the country.

As far as this article goes, yes, we expats should be able cast the vote in an free and fair manner.

It sad that after so many years we are still a remittance economy. There is no harm having high remittances but if it too high a potion of you currenct account , it is troubling and shows the hollowness of the home country.

I pray things very quickly change for the better in Pakistan. Long live Paksitan. It is that country that owes us a living, not any other country... and we owe the country honesty and sincerelty (and no double talk on national interest, Mush style ).

Re: # 1 Hello HP:
Now you say,"..There is no need to become like the Indian NRIs that are too arrogant and believe that people at home in India are stupid. NRI regularly disrespect poor Indians in India....".

Believe me these NRIs SOBs are equally disrespectful of Pakistanis too and get into bed with American Zionists. That is very bad.

Kamath

Great piece. The OP vote should matter. It wouldn't seem too hard for the embassies to act as polling stations abroad for a couple of days. Do not know how that would work out in the gulf as u said but the fact remains that embassies and foreign missions are supposed to act as that countries territory by rule of law no? so why cant they do polling?

Yeah well, maybe those brilliant, gifted, exceptional Overseas Pakistanis should try coming BACK TO PAKISTAN.

Well Mr. Malik,

The over-the-seas folks most definitely sail in two boats at the same time. I've heard this 'Pakistan-survives-on-our-dollars' thing for too long now to sympathise with those who regularly demand over THERE what we seldom get over HERE!

Look how safely the foreign-masters land, destroy, and then sail away after faking nationalities and loyalties. Down with the miserable personalities, and down with their forked tongues too. May Shaukat Aziz wave his magic wand over THERE with the same expertise. Ameen.

Those who've had their 'vilayti' cake may eat it too; please allow us to bake our own without interference. One loses certain rights by walking out the door; don't defend those whose tax-money supports the war against us.

Peace.