Why events in Pakistan affect us all

Jan 28 2008 By Dr Mohammad Naseem

WE LIVE in a time in the history of mankind when the whole wide world has become a global village.

Our interests are linked, our economies benefit from each other, we are bound to help each other in order to sustain our own welfare. The circumstances of one country are no longer the concerns of that country alone. They in some way affect us as well.

There are about two million UK nationals who have relatives or friends in Pakistan. Their welfare or stress does have a bearing on the moods and wellbeing of a large section of our society.

It is in this context that the events in Pakistan have become a matter of concern for us as well.

Pakistan has an unfortunate history.

It has experienced democracy for a long time, both main parties have had their chance, the military rule has had its sway for a reasonable length of time but the basic problems of the country such as literacy, job availability and corruption have never been solved.

Pakistan is still in the lowest league of countries for literacy rating.

Its working classes - the greatest majority of its people - are always looking out for escape from the country.

The political parties for whom our establishment sheds so many tears are only fiefdoms.

When our leadership and media clamour so much for democracy in Pakistan, they in fact are supporting fiefdoms in Pakistan.

The greatest tragedy in the West is that our own democracies are, in fact, playfields of the super-rich.

A poor party has no chance in our political system unless it is funded by the very rich, who remain in the background but enjoy wielding the levers of power.

That is one reason that when we talk about democracy, we never mean democracy.

We hate honest people. We support corrupt and dictatorial regimes such as Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan etc.