In Sukkur, southern
Pakistan, a man at a relief camp waits for aid.
The Daily Mail, Pakistan
Pakistan's 'Stonehearted' Leaders Can't be Trusted
"Ignoring
the thousands of his own people desperate for even a morsel of bread, the
president spent millions from the national kitty to stay in expensive hotels. …
People prefer suicide to such misery. … Because of the nature of our government,
we shouldn't criticize states that don't provide us with assistance."
To say that Pakistan President Zardari chose the wrong moment for a foreign trip to visit and politically christen his son would be an understatement. Above, Zaradari faces the press with David Cameron after talks at Chequers, the British prime minister's official country residence, Aug. 6.
The floods in Pakistan have
caused massive destruction. Killing thousands and rendering millions homeless,
this is the most devastating flood disaster in our history. Almost 10 percent
of the population has been affected, their crops annihilated and their homes
submerged. The International Red Cross has said, “in the worst affected areas, in
addition to other damage, floodwaters have destroyed much of the health
infrastructure, leaving people particularly vulnerable to water-borne disease.”
Our stonehearted government
has failed. An estimated 4 million people have been rendered homeless, and 8
million dependent on aid for their very survival. While our nation was undergoing
this incredible natural disaster and its people sobbed and pleaded for help,
our president was on a European joyride. Ignoring the thousands of his own
people desperate for even a morsel of bread, he spent millions from the national
kitty to stay in expensive hotels. While our president enjoyed himself in
France and Britain and the country was desperate for aid, he was focused on his
son's entry into politics. While flood victims went without shelter, our
so-called democratic president stayed in ritzy hotels with his son and
daughter.
He toured France and visited
his luxurious home there, while his miserable and depressed nation mourned for
their homes, submerged by flooding. Then he visited England under the pretext
that he needed to negotiate with Cameron about the British leader's statement
in India. But a pretext is all it was. He accomplished only the fulfillment of
his own desires and interests. Whether the British government responded
positively to Zardari's demands is another question.
While in Britain, a man flung
a shoe at Zardari. So not only did our president join the "shoe club,"
but the nation of Pakistan was forced to confront criticism. The international
media criticized Zardari's tour because it was inappropriate during such a perilous
disaster. But for him, foreign tours are more important than the nation. Yet
when he was done in Britain, our president felt the need for more amusement.
This time he chose to visit Russia, where he took part in the Sochi summit.
On the issue of putting
nation above entertainment, I would suggest that our president take lessons
from Russian leaders. President Medvedev cancelled a holiday when he heard his country
was in trouble. Perhaps a lecture from Medvedev would change Zardari's nature.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
In the aftermath of the
disaster, flood victims have accused the government of failing to provide
adequate shelter, water, food and medicine. Of course, our democratic
government is comprised of corrupt representatives who hold fake
university degrees. Inflation and electric shortages are another government
gift to its pathetic nation. Cutting the work week by two days was another act
of kindness on the part of this government, which cut salaries of those in offices
both private and public. Due to electrical shortages, commerce is also on the
decline.
People prefer suicide to such
misery.
During the flood, our corrupt
government had a chance to redeem itself, but instead they proved that they've
learned nothing from the past. Our leaders ask for aid, but donors are reluctant,
because both here and abroad, donors don't trust our corrupt leaders. There was
a time when [Prime Minister] Nawaz
Sharif told the nation that he wanted to repay the foreign debt, so the people
had to help. At the time, people trusted their leaders. Ladies even gave up their
gold jewelry. But our leaders know only too well how to deceive and play with
the emotions of the innocent. Now the nation doesn't trust them.
As our Army moves ahead with relief
operations, our government eyes the international community for aid. But
suspicion is keeps international donations at a sluggish trickle.
Even Arab states have been
stingy. India, Pakistan’s much larger and far wealthier neighbor, has offered only
a small amount of aid, because it insists that donations go directly to flood
victims. No one trusts our government.
In this critical hour, even
the U.S. has criticized us. Richard Holbrooke
taunted the nation, chiding Pakistan that it always prefers China and Iran -
and asking where they are. While China has always supported Pakistan in
complicated situations, especially war, it is not now one of the leading donors
to flood victims. [Referring to China, Holbrooke is quoted as
saying, "Where is Pakistan’s all-weather friend?"]
Because of the
nature of our government, we shouldn't criticize states that don't provide us
with assistance. International donors cannot trust corrupt leaders, and our current
government has a record of violating promises in every regard. Our leaders have
lost the trust, not only of their own nation, but that of the international
community. Now that our leaders have lost their credibility and been proven unable
to cope, people out of government are moving ahead to find help.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
If the government has so
severely lost its credibility, what will it do when this disaster ends and the
victims have lost all of their property, shelter and crops? Without foreign aid,
how will our government address the future of flood victims? Pakistani
officials should open their eyes and pay attention to their constituents rather
than to their own bank accounts. Elected based on slogans like, "Roti,
Kapra, Aur Makan" [Bread, Clothes, and Homes], Pakistan's leaders take
no notice that is what the nation's afflicted are desperate for.
Our government does nothing
while it should be launching projects to redevelop flood-affected areas. If the
situation and the government's attitude continues as it has for the past three
years, another flood will soon follow, reminding us again that our stonehearted
leaders merely play with our emotions.