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George ka khuda hafiz — II
Unfortunately, no one is immune to the ills that this country subjects its citizens to.
The writer is a freelance print and broadcast journalist george.fulton@tribune.com.pk
From the moment I arrived in Pakistan nine years ago, the omnipotence of the military apparatus was self-evident. Yet, as I leave, it’s apparent it will be this institution, more than any other, that will be the catalyst of this country’s eventual downfall. As Pervez Hoodbhoy recently pointed out, rather than acting as a factor for détente in the region, our acquiring the nuclear bomb in 1998 exacerbated our military arrogance. Kargil, the attack on India’s Parliament and, more recently, Mumbai have all occurred since we got the bomb — attacks that couldn’t have been carried out without some military/intelligence involvement.
And yet, ironically, the military’s regional self-importance belies our chronic servitude to the US. In addition to being the largest landowner in Pakistan, the Pakistani Army is the world’s largest mercenary army. Look at the media storm created over the Kerry-Lugar Bill for it’s supposed slight to Pakistani sovereignty. Yet it is the army’s reliance on US military aid that has made Pakistan a client state of the US. This inherent contradiction is not disseminated in the media. Instead, the established narrative for our acquiescence to the US is laid firmly at the weakness of our political class. As if it was the politicians — and not the military leadership — who somehow control Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Of course the military/religious right in Pakistan use their proxies in the media to blame the Hindus, Americans and Jews for all our sins. But those sins are mostly ours. Atiqa Odho, a friend, and someone who truly wants the best for Pakistan, sent me a text message after the detention by India customs of singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. “Rahat Ali Khan is not a criminal, he has become a victim of corrupt trade practices in India that have singled him out to target the soft image of Pakistan… Let’s not treat a music icon who has million of fans over the world as a common criminal.” The text had it all: hyper-patriotism, paranoia, absolution of responsibility, and a shot of snobbery. Why shouldn’t he be treated as a common criminal if he was avoiding tax? The attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team wasn’t a foreign hand. It was a Pakistani hand. Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir were not brought down by some covert Anglo/India plot, but by their own avarice. They cheated.
But the right’s hyper-nationalism is perhaps more tolerable than the liberal elite’s disengagement and insouciance. Like the right, the liberal elite believe all Pakistan’s woes belong to others. But rather than the Hindu/US/Zionist paranoia of the right, the liberals put the blame on the mullahs, the masses, the uneducated and the unwashed — anyone, but themselves. We — and I include myself here, as this was my social milieu for the past nine years — are unaware of our own hypocrisy.
My friends will condemn the cricketers, but not the society that actively encourages these lower middle-class boys to cheat. But why would they? Their families have gorged and benefitted from this society. Recently, at a coffee shop, I overheard a society Begum, decked out in designer clothes and glasses, bemoan the cricketing scandal. Her ire was primarily directed at the boys for bringing Pakistan’s ‘good’ name into disrepute — not the cheating itself. She then harked back to a time when the Pakistan cricket team spoke English well, as if good English equalled with moral rectitude. But does she question how her husband makes his money? For every Rs100 collected by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in taxes, it misses another Rs79 due to tax evasion. The FBR estimates that the total revenue lost by the government as a result of tax evasion comes out to Rs1.27 trillion for this fiscal year and is equal to eight per cent of the GDP. According to the FBR, over 70 per cent of all taxes evaded are corporate income taxes. What’s the difference between Salman Butt screwing his country for money and the rest of us?
But the liberal elite is a misnomer. We aren’t really liberal. We want the liberal values of free speech and rule of law, without wanting to instil the economic and democratic mechanisms to ensure them. We espouse liberalism but don’t practice the egalitarian values — distribution of power and wealth — that underpin liberalism.
But then, the English liberal ‘elite’ has abdicated all responsibility to govern in the past 60 years. Despite enjoying unprecedented levels of wealth and education, we no longer believe it is our duty as the best educated and most privileged in society to contribute to its development. The English language has created a linguistic Berlin Wall between us and the rest of the country. We remain cosseted inside our bubble. Instead, we have ceded political space to a reactionary, conservative, military, feudal and religious nexus. Tolerating this because, in turn, they have left us alone. They have allowed us freedoms that the rest of the country doesn’t have.Freedom to get obscenely wealthy. Freedom to party at Rs10,000-a-ticket balls. Freedom to dress how we like. But these freedoms come at a price. A Faustian pact has been signed.
Even Pakistan’s intellectual elite has largely abandoned its responsibility. An ideological vacuum occurred after 1971, when the ‘idea of Pakistan’ and the two-state solution failed. What filled the vacuum over the succeeding decades have been a variety of parties with their own vested self-interests — Ziaul Haq, Islamists, the Saudis and the US — trying to enforce their own idea of Pakistan. Today, our intellectual elite are too compromised — suckling on the teat of donor money, scholarships and exchange programmes — to challenge the US narrative.
Unfortunately, no one is immune to the ills that this country subjects its citizens to. I have changed. Slowly, my values and morals have corroded. But I don’t want that for my one-year-old boy, Faiz. I want him to grow up in a society where guns are not an everyday occurrence and his parents can openly hold hands.
After Salmaan Taseer’s assassination, my mother-in-law — a hardworking, decent school principal, who was born in Bombay and had grown up in Dhaka before migrating to Pakistan — called me up. She had seen three of her children leave Pakistan during the past 20 years. My wife was the last one remaining. As she spoke, she sounded defeated: “George, just jao. Jao”. So now I am going. Khuda hafiz, Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2011.
Reader Comments (241)
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How very sad! The distorted version of our national slogan ” Pakistan se Zinda Bhaag” rings true here!Recommend
well rats are the first to leave when the ship sinks, so you are no exception. My ancestors made a decision to migrate to pakistan and ALL of them stood by their decision no matter what.
Your flowery language and the emotional jargon does not mean a thing George you are IBNULWAKT.
Finding faults is the easiest thing in the world to do, that is precisely what you have done,nothing new to anyone who has read it. Had you meant what you wrote you would have stayed back to put in your bit to find a solution.
AND YES GEORGE TERA KHUDA HE HAFIZRecommend
What George has said, it should be given due attention by every true Pakistani without being the emotional. I born in Pakistan, living in Pakistan but when I think what‘s the future of my sons, daughter and other youngster? There is no protection, there is not peace and every one is seeking peace. There is corruption but no one want to step forward to eliminate such evils, bribery and other evils are now part of living but how many year we can survive with all evils. Mosque are full of prayerees but there is no honestly. Every where we can see the Majalis-e-Milaad but we are unable to see the picture of any of act of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).Recommend
Somewhat of a coincidence that George should be making such an abrupt departure, when colleagues of Mr. Raymond Davis are also scurrying to catch the first flight out, in case they are outed.
George has put his money where his heart is.
Dont be taken in by the gracious mouthings of people such as George.
The depth of their feelings is measured by their commitment, and George gets an F for ‘Fail’..Recommend
Pakistan doesn’t deserve you, switch to some other sane country.Recommend
George,
Good bye and best of luck. It takes courage to live in a country like Pakistan. It was never going to be easy and you gave up after only a few years. Give up the citizenship as well. Those that leave Pakistan in its time of need do not deserve the green passport.
Regards,
ImranRecommend
The last saas bit takes the cake for me. Says it all.. bhaag jao. Poignant for sure!Recommend
@Noor: This comment is so poignant :DRecommend
George no body knows you before pakistan.You got fame,wealth & wife from pakistan.your base is not in pakistan so we understand you have no love for pakistan ,You were here for your personal goals may b undercover another Rymond Davis,so if you want to go you must go but stop blaming Pakistan . Thankless George ka Khuda hi Hafiz… It is better for Pakistan.Recommend
@liberal fascist:
dont agree with u…totally NOT.Recommend
@Irfan
My ancestors made a decision to migrate to pakistan and ALL of them stood by their decision no matter what.
So when your ancestors made a dicision to migrate to Pakistan did they not ‘run from a sinking ship’. Why did they not chose to stay behind to put things right?
And come to think of it ancestors of ZAB,BB,Taseer and Bhatti stayed put and still came to a sorry end.
Moral of the story- Lets not get hoity toity with a guy who is only sharing his pain because he believes that he owes an explanation to the people he loves.Recommend
@irfan:
Perhaps it has not occurred to you that there are times when you have to leave a place
you love because of the stranglehold of a privileged minority? One may be intelligent but one finds the way ahead is barred because of what George calls the “Berlin Wall”. You lack the resources to scale that wall so you find a way to get out of the oppressive colonial society and breathe freely in the land of the people who had bequeathed that antiquated colonial system to their erstwhile subjects more than 60 years ago. So, in the new land of opportunity you learn a new language in addition to your own and you live with dignity and freedom. Meanwhile, you continue to offer support to the motherland in whatever way possible.
All that the privileged Pakistani class needs to do is provide a level playing field for all. It simply is not possible to do that unless Pakistan’s lingua franca, Urdu, is introduced in all walks of life, civilian and military. It may not be possible to do that overnight, but that goal of a level playing field is possible over a period of time. The sooner we start the better.Recommend
I pity you and your family and your mother in Law. I am sorry to see that they have no country of their own. Leaving Pakistan is no solution. You are not at fault. This was not your country and you are going back to your country. But your wife and your mother in law are not the real Pakistanis… they are better-off in some other country.
This is a difficult time for Pakistan but soon there will be time when things will be better inshAllah.
You have a safe journey and a great family life.Recommend
Good luck George, I sympathise with you leaving. I am a British Pakistani who grew up hearing great things about Pakistan from my parents, only to have lived in Pakistan for the last couple of years where I have realised that it is probably the most unislamic, hate-filled country I have ever been to. The rights of the poor and minorities are not respected and the country is dominated my extremism or people who justify extremism.
I have to say, Pakistan is not a country I am proud to be from. When I am abroad and people ask me where my family is from, I would rather say I am Indian.
I am sure some would comment that I am not a true Pakistani so I do not have the right to comment and my response to that is, thank God I am not from here so that I have the choice to leave before Pakistan runs itself into the ground. I feel sorry for the countless poor people who suffer in Pakistan without any hope of ever leaving.Recommend
“Keep Writing”, as i said before. That’s the best you can do!!Recommend
George,
Its commendable that you stayed here and tried your best to make it work. Not taking anything away from you, I think most of us who were born and bred here have a bigger stake in Pakistans success.
I think the decision to leave Pakistan has become immensely important and symbolic now. Its going to be a death by a thousand cuts if one by one, the sane people get up and leave. Every person who cannot take it anymore or crosses a personal threshold and leaves, actually adds momentum to the downfall. Every person that decides to stay and fight (or moves back from abroad) strengthens the case for a stable Pakistan and contributes to making it better in some small way. Earlier, I was fine with my friends getting great jobs abroad and feeling safe in Dubai or Toronto and sending $$ back into our economy but now, its become ever more crucial to stay and support the fight against this internal onslaught of jahalat. Every person has a threshold (being mugged, cheated, Salman Taseers murder etc). We just need to have thicker skin and a higher threshold…Recommend
George is leaving because it he has finally become a true Pakistani – it took him 9 years. He came to Pakistan, and became an overnight celebrity… a young journalist, amongst thousands like him, and according to himself his primary qualification was just being a naive Gora. But he loved Pakistan, a rare trait amongst us all, and people were so inspired by this that they made him an icon. He could have made it big in media, or politics, or whatever he chose….
Over the years, he has written so many times about us not taking responsibility for our own actions, about constantly wanting foreign passports to escape, about not facing up to harsh realities; And it is heart breaking to see that he has changed so much that now he does not even take responsibility for his own decision to depart…In Pakistan decisions are made for you, he laments in part 1 of this article… I am leaving because of my young child, he cries, it is my mother in law that has made my decision, he feebly argues!
George Bhai, we loved you and welcomed you in our hearts… but you became so much like us that you forgot the old George inside, full of passion and spirit and vigour. But now we see a dejected cynical soul slinking away into the oblivion of the West…. it was nice having you but sad that your spirit has become so broken. Khair nal ja George Bhai…we will miss you but as a spiritless automation you could no longer be a hero anyway, so it is just as well that you are leaving, for pastures new.Recommend
@Shehryar: Re: We just need to have thicker skin and a higher threshold…
A few days ago I read a great analogy about how a frog would jump out if thrown in a pot of boiling water; however, a frog sitting in a pot will boil to its death if you slowly increase the temperature of water.
Our thicker skins & higher thresholds would do nothing…situation will keep deteriorating, people will keep adjusting to newer injustices until everything just disintegrates. I have seen our society change throughout 80s, 90′s & the past decade & it is because we allowed our thresholds to be pushed around. I left Pakistan 11 years ago feeling powerless in the face of growing religious bigotry & intolerance. We are reaping what Zia sowed & unfortunately, I see a point of no return:(
Good Luck George!!!Recommend
One of the best articles I have ever read on the Tribune. And so true! Please continue writing after you leave, I for one would still love to hear what you have to say. More astonishingly, for someone who’s lived in the country for only nine years, you seem to have a much more composed and thought-out insight than anyone else here does. We respect you George, and we hope you will come back some day!Recommend
Lets call George a CIA agent…. Its so easy…. isn’t itRecommend
@Mehnaz:
I didn’t mean thicker skin in terms of insensitivity or indifference. I mean thicker skin and a higher threshold before we say “Screw it, I’m leaving”. I’m afraid no matter how bad it gets, there is always a way back if you stay in Pakistan. Once you leave, then you find it harder and harder to resist and contribute (except cash to Shaukat Khanum or Edhi). In very broad terms, these are the two choices: 1) mainstream people staying here and slowly pushing back against the extremists and improving things one painful step at a time or 2) most of the upper and middle class moving abroad and just leaving Pakistan to the dogs. With every “George and family” that leaves, things get easier for the Qadris.Recommend
lOl, To be very honest, I really liked you George, but after reading this.. I must say, you’re like any other ‘Gora’ who will always see the Bad side of Pakistan, too bad. Even after living here for 9 years, you don’t know the real Pakistan and the worst part is, you did not even make an effort to bring a change, instead you chose to run away. Tell me One thing, Have you ever received Death threats or something similar to that?? Pakistanis always Loved you, that is the reason you lived here for almost a decade! All those Thankless people who are calling Pakistan a ‘Blood thirsty state’ should not forget that they are living here, doing what so ever pleases them, with no Restrictions as such. Though there are factors which are degrading us, it is up to us to fail all those conspiracies and protect ourselves. No one else would do that for you, you yourselves will have to stand up.
As far as “freedom of speech” is concerned, there is always a limit to it and if there is not, it could very well give birth to war as people will go around saying whatever’s on the tip of their tongues and it can offend people and resent them, after all we are human beings and as humans, we should care for our dignity and respect. Secondly, i totally agree with what Atiqa Odho said, India is always looking out for reasons to humiliate us. That’s a fact, accept it. Thirdly, what the Cricketers do, Does not represent the whole nation, Exactly like what Raymond Davis did does not represent the whole of the ‘Gora’ race. And by the way, a lot of stuff happens in Pakistan so you can totally hold hands and no one will even bother. This is Pakistan Not Afghanistan, Stop exaggerating like all your counter parts. I have realized, you’re No Different.
Why don’t you condemn Drone attacks? Why don’t you condemn people who in the name of “freedom of speech” go on offending peoples sentiments? If you have “emotions” so do others.
Sorry to say, Change the name from “George ka Khuda hafiz” to “George ki Abandoning”Recommend
Good bye George.
Your analysis is valid but you have underestimated the strength of ordinary Pakistanis.
I am sure you will come back in a few years!Recommend
@Nayab:
What a sorry rant!Recommend
aww…finally back to your roots..? I must say great decision George..”Dare aaye Darust aaye” :-) actually I don’t agree wid most of your views…but yes, I truly wish you a great life ahead…Stay Safe!Recommend
http://yasarqamar.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/george-fulton-one-sane-mind-less/
Tell me what you think.Recommend
@Nayab
India is always looking out for reasons to humiliate us. That’s a fact, accept it.
1.Indian PM came to Minar-e Pakistan.
2.Indian Gen Musharraf staged a coup.
3.Indians invited ‘mujahiddin of northern light infantry’ to Kargil.
4.Indians hijacked IC 814 to Kandhar
5.Indians facilitated 9/11.
6.Indians killes Daniel Pearl.
7.Indians attacked their own parliament.
8.Indians bombed London.
9.Indians created murder and mayhem in Lisbon.
10.Indians dismissed the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
11 Indians killed Benajir Bhutto
12.Indians attacked Mumbai.
13.Indian cricketers engaged in spot fixing.
14.Indians bombed sufi shrines and Ashura processions
15.Indians killed Taseer and Bhatti
16.Indians declared Ahmadis ‘wajibul qatal’
Indians did all this to malign the innocent Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Yes I accept these ‘facts’.
Nayab logic indeed.Recommend
@Roflcopter
@shams
Does his criticism sting u coz u think he’s not Pakistani or coz he’s white? Pls stop displaying such utter narrow- mindedness. If we accept critical evaluations of this country from fellow countrymen without taking offense, understand he too is Pakistani, get the damn chip off your shoulder n focus on wat he is saying, not on who is saying it. Embrace, foremost that he is pakistani. In telling him to leave already, u display your true lack of compassion n liberal values.Recommend
Hi George!
It is a Pakistani gesture when “Hi” is used to relieve a heavy burden on your chest. Hello. I sigh becasue I feel sad that you are leaving. I am a true fan of you George, I like you because you chose to be a part of a country that I myslef feel not very proud to be assocaited with.
You taking Pakistan as a home was a one in a million thing, you going back is natural act of self defence and that is what most of the people in pakistan would like to do. Imagine what is left when all the good is gone from my country.
We Pakistanis will always remember you with love and I am sure you also will carry a little tiny feeling of love for Pakistan, I will still read your tweets.Recommend
The Article is truly a deeply thought of what is happening. and it is very to the point. with what is happening around us, i myself being a Pakistani don’t feel safe. we have grown fundamentalism into people. who don’t listen, who act, no matter what they do, they act no matter its violence or murder for them its honestly because we have started to defy our religion. making it way we want to. Geroge may God bless you and may u be safe. i feel sorry as for me and urself of being a Pakistani who isn’t secure in his own countryRecommend
Calling the Pakistan Army a mercenary army is probably a crime under our defamation laws or laws prohibiting creating disaffection against the defenders of the nation. Mr George being a law-abiding person would agree no doubt to stay and face any legal proceedings, I assume, and prove his statements in court. We should take cognizance and investigate if a crime has been committed. I take offense.Recommend
Negativity Breeds more Despondence….and dats not the solution…the So called Liberals educated Pakistanis sud understand this more than anybody else…..whoever wants to leave sud leave…if u lose ur passion in something u strongly believed in…den ur surely not a winner!!!Recommend
Calling Pakistani army a mercinary is an insult to the mercinaries. The mercinary accepts the money and executes the killing, What does Pak army do, Accept money from US, Train, bribe and brainwash innocent poor public like Kasab, thru well founded terrorist infrastructure and attack others and sometimes Pakistan, strike deals with terrorists whom it cant fight(under the guise of “cant fire at our own people”), fight only when it does not have an alternative and pay the top brass the highest salary in the world. When it suits, it takes over the country under the Doctrine of necessity and screws it up further as if the politicians have not done enough damage. You call this the “The army” which was the main reason Pakistan bifurcated itself into 2, come on gimme a break..Recommend
Dear George,
While you are right about some things you have written, you seem to criticize our military a little too much. Heres why I say this:
If Pakistan did Kargil, didn’t India do Siachen? At least Pakistan pulled out, India hasn’t.
Didn’t Pakistan test its nuclear bomb in response to the Indians?
If Pakistan did Mumbai thing, what about India’s involvement in our province Balochistan? (Yes have made out mistakes there too, but that shouldn’t mean we ignore how India is funding violence in that country)
About Salman Taseer, as much as I would condemn his murder (as I dont have any doubt that his killing was totally un-Islamic), what about India’s violence in Gujrat and Kashmir?
Please read some history, and see how countries, rightly or wrongly, defend their interests outside of their territories. Please read your own country’s history, and see for yourself what they did around the world, to feed their power hunger. I am sure you will see the bigger picture, as to how things are run by humans around the world.
Oh BTW, what about the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? I am sure it wasn’t our military/establishment who went into another country after lying to the world, hanging it’s President?
So my point is, it’s not just Pakistan, its the whole world, including your country, including India and US. And I am also gonna say this to Pakistanis: Yes do agree to our weaknesses, but also learn to see if it’s only you who is the worst example around? Shouldn’t we talk about the whole world, and stop blindly agreeing to everything the world has to say about you!Recommend
Meerza:
Pl get your logic correct
Kargil is in Indian territory while Siachen was not marked
China attacked in 1962 and it has atom bomb. What do u want India to do. Naturally test and develop its own bombs. India never attacked Pakistan unprovoked. Bombs are not Pakistan centric.
This news about Balochistan is an unsubstantiated lie and used as and when the Pakistan’s political class sees it fit to divert Pakistani’s attention from the careless attitude of military and politicians. Why cant u see thru their game first before blaming India without providing any evidence. No Indian citizen came to Balochistan and attacked. It was Pak army, it is Pak army and it will be and then blame it on india
India’s violence in Kashmir and Gujarat are not unprovoked acts like Mumbai. If pakistani and muslim terrorists keep attacking Indians from 1947, patience will wear out and some people will react and react with a vengence. It does not mean they can dodge laws and courts. Indian legal system is slow but atleast moving. Mahatma gandhi was a gujarati but not all gujaratis can be Mahatmas. If Pakistan has accepted the accession and left it to the Kashmiris, things would have been different. They poked their nose in 1947 and then in the eighties after the Afgan adventure. Now the nose is getting bloodied by their own hands
Please please understand one thing, George is not migrating to India. He is a well read man and am sure he would have better answers to all your illogical points.Recommend
Poor George forgot to mention the hundreds and thousands of innocent Iraqis and Afghanis slaughtered by the British Army, NATO, the US, the Allied Forces (ISAF) and the brutalities during the colonial regime in British India. I’m glad you left before someone taught you a good lesson. Shukar :)Recommend
British and American operatives are pulling out…..khuda hafiz George :)Recommend
Great Decision George, This country was never worthy of living since 1947, as the base of this country is wrong, and the country which was being built on wrong base how can it stand up on good wall, Your Decision is Right, Good LuckRecommend
@vasan
I have written the same text, in an email to George. I will let you know if he really comes forward with logical answers. The way he is talking about us, clearly shows his lack of information about Britain’s own bloody past. He should visit his museums and bow his head in shame. Looters of the world, talking about us!
About India and Pakistan: If you think Pakistan is all evil, and your country India is all pure, you are living in fools paradise. Like I said in my last post, thats the way humans are, thats how they defend their interests.
One more thing, USA is definitely worshiping India now (so you’re basking in ‘india shining’ image), but rest assured they will use you like a tissue paper, use you against China. Then you will be discarded just like us. Do stay tuned! And Oh please dont say we cant be discarded, we have a strong economy that we built ourselves; economies dont work in isolation.Recommend
What George did for Pakistan?Recommend
come on. its not that dark.. we were born and grew up here. just because you are leaving does not mean that rest should lost all hope of life also. life goes onRecommend
@Meerza:
What makes you think that Indians would allow themselves to be used and discarded ?
They did not allow Russia to do that.. and at that time, Indian economy was not strong either…
It’s not money. It’s character. It’s education; learning; culture; tradition; heritage; It’s values.
It’s not what the mullah or priest says. Its not what the 1300 year old (or 3000 year old) “holy book” says.
Indian and Chinese are two of the greatest and oldest civilizations that ever existed; from way before Russian and American and Arab and Mohammedan.
Pakistanis are part of that ancient civilization too; they would benefit from learning the ancient wisdom of tolerance and learning, instead of listening to hate filled speeches of Mullahs that spout rubbish about infidels and kafirs.
Pakistan as a nation is fast becoming the out-caste of the world…better realize it before it becomes too late.Recommend
Meerza:
“The way he is talking about us, clearly shows his lack of information about Britain’s own bloody past. He should visit his museums and bow his head in shame. Looters of the world, talking about us! ”
I agree with you that Britishers have a bloody past and were looters of the world. That does not change a thing about Pakistan.
“About India and Pakistan: If you think Pakistan is all evil, and your country India is all pure, you are living in fools paradise. Like I said in my last post, thats the way humans are, thats how they defend their interests. ”
I agree with you partially. We dont claim India is all pure and we dont think Pakistan is all evil I also agree that this is the way humans are. I vehemently disagree with the uncivilised way of defending their interests by pakistan and doubly disagree with the way they defend that logic..
Civilised or uncivilised nations do have differences of Interest but they dont behave like Pakistan interfering in other states on the pretext of defending their interests and use religion as a tool for masking their uncivilised behavior. WE dont claim to be leaders of Hindu UMMA or any such nonsene. We dont claim anything of ours as Hindu this or Hindu that. And we dont name our missiles after the invaders like Gazni and Gauri etc.
USA will use us and throw us like a tissue if we let US do that. That is where we are different from Pakistan. We know what our interests are and we dont supply men for dollars. We dont have a mercinary army. Our ex prime ministers and presidents dont live in exile. This list of differences are endless and that is the way we are. We are confident that we can handle this relationship will US to everyone’s advantage not that of US alone..Recommend
@Blithe
You seem to be too worried about Sachar, MJ Akbar and the state of Indian muslims!!!
So, Let me throw some light. Indian Muslims citizens are doing fairly well compared to their coreligionists in most other countries. Though Muslims are indeed under represented in Govt. and Public sector jobs, they enjoy no insecurity or persecution. In india’s first-past-the-poll system their votes significantly influence the outcome in about 30% (150 seats) constituencies – which is why BJP can never hope to be in power on its own. That’s power far beyond their percentage population.
There was an attempt by some state legislatures to provide job reservations for them, but then it was shut out by the Supreme court, which held that a religious reservation isn’t permitted by Constitution. But, now they have been accommodated in OBC sections on the basis of economic backwardness, which is permitted by constitution.
But, the real problem in reforming Muslim Society in India comes from Muslim leadership. They don’t want Madrasa education system to be modernized, thus churning out unemployable adults. This old leadership opposed any reform in Muslim Personal law, and has resisted many progressive measures regarding Muslim women.
However, that’s changing fast. The younger generation is impatient and don’t have time for the insecurities of older generation. They want good jobs, good life..
Oh BTW, since you used lot of numbers, here is one – Muslim percentage of Indian population has gone up by 30% since independence (11 to ~14% as you mentioned). Compare that with what happened to Hindus in Pakistan (18% to less than 1.2% by 1998, perhaps less now).
So, above is a measure of safety Muslims minorities have enjoyed under Indian constitution, it also shows Muslims as a society haven’t been as successful in Population control as other sections in India. That adds to their economic backwardness.Recommend
@Moise
He left it alone, before being accused of Blasphemy and creating another international uproar.
@Fareed Khan:
The easiest thing to do, and exactly what George was talking about. Tougher thing to do is to develop a temperament of tolerance to criticism.Recommend
Mr George should also do a “George ka Shukria” Blog Entry. Pakistan did you a favour in a lot of ways and forms. People would love to know about that as well.Recommend
@Indian-American
“1300 years old “Holy Book”"… I did not mock your religion, please mind your language.
“Pakistan as a nation is fast becoming the out-caste of the world…”
Your former prime minister Nehru said, soon after the partition that our country wouldn’t survive for more than a few months… Keep dreaming like your “leaders”!Recommend
@vasan
“Civilised or uncivilised nations do have differences of Interest but they dont behave like Pakistan interfering in other states on the pretext of defending their interests…”
Please come back to my question in the first post about Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)?Recommend
@vasan, @harkol
Drop it guys, don’t get provoked, the topic is different. Regarding the points of Indian muslims, enjoying the fruits of secularism in our country, no matter how much you explain it to them, Pakistanis won’t understand. They are just not brought up like that. A particular hindi proverb fits in to all of this -aakhir bundar kya jaane adark ka swad..Recommend
this article totally ridiculous to core ..he wants a Pakistan to be nude, girls dancing on evey inch of this land and on top of it a LIberal Mummy daddy SECULAR country which is the only yard stick to measure liberalism
george u want to leave dont make sentimenatl satements or trying to show things in a twisted way …indeed very very twised ….. ur wicked but poorRecommend
Agreeing with much of what u have said about the elite in Pakistan and the plague of extremism I would like to correct u on some of the things u hv said; firstly if the two nation theory was wrong then Bangla Desh would have been a province of India and not a separate state after 1971. The idea of Pakistan was a stroke of genius, it did not fail, rather we failed Pakistan. The privileged elite living in closed walls and the religious fanatics combined together are not more then a single digit percentage. The majority, which unfortunately u were not in contact with is caring loving and moderate. They have absolutely nothing to do with the “Military, Elite or Religious” nexus. We are passing through our phases of learning, we will learn through the process of elimination, which will be long, after all Rome was not built in a day. The longer the process the deeper will be the depth of learning. You may see a ‘failure of state’ thing in the conditions my country is in today but I see foundations of a strong resilient country shaping up through a hard learning process. We ordinary Pakistanis will make sure it does.
Some one asked Mr.Jinnah that you have changed history and made a country, how long do you think it will take for it to become a nation, Jinnah’s reply was a 100 years, so we are still 38 years short. So George if u live 38 more years(which I hope u do) you might want to migrate to Pakistan, again! only it would be permanent then. Goodbye our friend.Recommend
@Meerza:
Can’t you Pakistanis never separate facts from sentiment…
You had to pick half-a-sentence, and get defensive ?
In the same sentence, I also referred to “our” 3000 year old holy book…we don’t follow it literally.
We don’t follow any priest literally either. We listen (if we want to), and ignore what we don’t like.
Religion is for personal and spiritual use, as each of us like it or not ……not for temporal use.
Do not follow the book literally whether mine or yours..we are in 2010 not in 700 and definitely not in 1000 BC.Recommend
@Haris Chaudhry:
Pakistan will stay …but the corrupt and the oppressors are certainly doomed….this is the time to show your character….unfortunately, many have left Pakistan and has blamed it for all that has been happening…but in the long run Pakistan will remain …it will see thousands of centuries InshaAllah….so if you leave today …you’ll be forever remembered as the one who abandon Pakistan….and if you are with us….then definitely you’ll have some respect…and be remembered as the one who supported Pakistan when it was in a dire state…. so don’t say Pakistan is doomed…it is the society…that will be doomed…for their sins….InshaAllah..a revolution will bring a change..,a better one…
As for George…it is simply…sad to know that he too is fleeing Pakistan…what he has said…we all knew it already…and this is what all those who have left have ever to say…to justify why they have left….but…I’m afraid Pakistan will stay forever….it just shows…how much you had in the tank…9 years eh?…not too bad for a foreigner…but deep down inside…you must know…that you have lost the battle… I wish you to stay happy wherever you go….you did what you had to do….but….it is sad…because ..everyone thought…if George can do it…why can’t we?…..but we’ve been wrong before….and you aren’t the one…Recommend
@SK Ayubi:
What a lame comment….it is true that we are in a dire state..but..certainly we are not a failed state…you are just trying to justify yourself….accept the truth that you have abandoned your beloved in the wilderness….Pakistan will stay and the corrupt society will be wiped out….
I’m just sad for you that you have just left something you once truly loved….how unfortunate you are….you don’t know it…but you are a tragedy…..
We need to correct ourselves…..before we can bring in any change….we need to correct ourselves first…individual basis…and the society will improve…eventually
the moment we will stop self pitying, blaming others, unnecessary despair, fleeing, abandoning….etc etc…only then Allah will make us think again…Pakistan ZindabadRecommend
@Mehnaz:
I don’t think it was a rant?….although she was sort of angry but made all the valid points….why do you think its a rant??Recommend
@Meerza
If Pakistan did Mumbai thing, what about India’s involvement in our province Balochistan?
Since you are interested in the affairs of Balochistan, here is what the Advocate General said in the Pakistani Supreme Court,
Significantly even Balochistan’s Advocate General (AG) Salahuddin Mengal stated in Supreme Court that, “We are recovering dead bodies day in and day out as the Frontier Corps (FC) and police are lifting people in broad daylight at will, but we are helpless. Who can check the FC?”
I wonder why the AG talked about FC and not RAW. Could it be because he was under oath to tell the truth in the Supreme Court. Please read your own papers carefully instead of reading ISI handouts.Details at
http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=201136\story6-3-2011pg3_2Recommend
what can i say to george everyone is leaving this country .Dil khon ke ansoo roota hai. hunderds of thousands of genious doctors engineeers and other r leaving the country but the govt is sleeping . Media is sleeping. so what about the brain drain from pakistan.Recommend
In the wake of extremism in a society; civility ought to take a flight to safe haven.Recommend
@nehal:
What you have said is very sensible but it does not go far enough. The process of change you talk about is painfully slow because of the erection of what George Fulton calls the “Berlin Wall”.
Please read the following two articles, which may possibly make you think a little differently.
http://thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=34403&Cat=9
http://sakibahmad.blogspot.com/2010/01/punjab-governments-own-goal.html
[do read all the comments at the end of this article - you are very welcome to leave your own comments]Recommend
George of the Jungle! I am sorry; our jungle here does not grow that vine which could take your
weight and let you swing from limb to limb. However you had the opportunity seek help from your benefactor now living in your jungle, to let you import vine from Sherwood forest and grow here so that Jane and You could swing with ease. What do you propose to do now that you are
back in your childhood jungle, seek blessing from Thomas Becket at Canterbury and don the robes or join King Henry’s stables as the livery boy. If that does not work sail to Tasmania.Recommend
GEORGE-JAN,
Pehelay George V1 th ka British India thaa !!
Whoh din ab beet gayay haiN.
Ab aap bhee ja rahay haiN ?Recommend
You are not the first one nor the last one to leave Pakistan for the reasons you have quoted. However, as you are ‘really’ not a Pakistani, it is understandable. The real problem is the brain drain caused by our ‘so-called’ professionals, who settle in the promised land for their own selfish desires. The absolute unprofessional-ism of our ‘professionals’ creates a vacuum which is filled by the stooges we all see in the army, establishment and politics.
Pakistan has survived all of this before and WILL do so in future. Thanks for lamenting about ‘our’ country. You are certainly not to blame as you have certainly tried your best, but the crocodile’s tears we see our elite shedding over our real issues while sitting in plush studios and drawing rooms is the real tragedy. Most of those have their own children settled abroad and have no ‘use’ of this country. They are the first to leave, and as the popular proverb, ‘The mice are the first to abandon a sinking ship’
So good luck to the mice, who run away. After all, even if you win the rat race, you’re still a rat!Recommend
indeed it is army behind our ill.even if army is not directly ruling the country,it never gives civilians complete authority to take decesions and i think all of us know about it.Recommend
Though i have not followed you from your so called humble beginning in the reality show, but after reading the two parts of your article, i conclude two things;
1) You have just stated the obvious, even a matriculate Pakistani can easily point these things out
2) Please refrain from using the terms; i embraced, i adopted or homely love for Pakistan. If you truly and honestly did that then you would not have left it in hard and testing times. This is not like a Pakistani (we never have and we never will give up to reinstall this country with core values defined by its liberal founder). i would like to sum this relationship by quoting “your country’s” great Mr George washington quote
True friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to appellation
unquote
So please quit while you can and we on the other hand will continue to fight for our motherland
Ps:i pity the fools who mourn your departure. innocent people like these are easily corrupted/demoralized by such events…Recommend
Thank you George for putting down your candid comments; these will be useful to those here who wish to see a positive change in our society. Your parting note is a service to Pakistani people.Your departure makes me sad but most of us understand. I and my friends wish you good luck wherever you are. And – you are welcome to come back, as and when the situation improves here. You got married here, and it is a tradition here to always treat our sons-in-law with respect and regard.
Best wishes,
KHALIDRecommend
Oh stop this nonsense. If he wants to go because his wife’s visa finally came through then let him.Recommend
Excellent write up Goerge. We need to take notice as you came from outside Pakistan with a fresh and unbiased perspective. I agree about the top brass of our Army; they have done nothing but fiddle with our growth in every sense. They cost us East Pakistan without fighting. They need to be accountable so that we can invest in our people rather than these rulers in uniform.
Kargil is an excellent example of how the Army thinks it can do anything it likes. There should be an enquiry so that we can take people like Perzez Mush to justice.
Stay in touch with Pakistan, Goerge. You know it wont be easy to get it out of your system.
Allah hafiz my friend!Recommend
@Waqas Ahmed:
Yes It is the Army which has ruled most of the time since independence.Recommend
Once upon a time you wrote
“Hope is contagious
Optimism and hope are emotional triggers that are sadly all too absent from our media and our national dialogue. Instead we revel in fear, pessimism and despondency. A contagious negative state that further perpetuates fear, pessimism and despondency. Why can’t we recalibrate this vicious cycle? “Recommend
we hope pak stables soon &u ;kiran and faiz COME BACK 2 where u belong! Best of luck may GOD b with u always;.NO GOOD BYES………..CAUSE SEE U SOON !Recommend
I think you are doing right thing at this moment of time. I can understand, you probably recieving threads from ISI+Taliban for speaking out…..but salute your courage to stay for such a long time and contribute a lot to the society, well done and hope to see you around back here in the UK;)
ThanksRecommend
Well, this is why you really want to leave Pakistan because you want your son Faiz’s upbringing in a better and a safer place. You being a British – origin Pakistani wouldn’t leave Pakistan and us for nothing, not just because your mother-in-law told you so. Well then that’s the best you can do because you have a choice and you opted for it. That makes me believe you are a good father besides being a good human-being. That’s ALL Pakistan needs from you ‘you being a good human-being ultimately a good citizen’. And DON’T surrender your “citizenship”.Recommend
By implying that his little Faiz deserves better, he is simultaneously implying that we’ve never had or never seen better and while we continue to live in privation he’d be making a better life for himself out there and while he is opting a better life for his child, the ones who live here are not doing so.
http://rabiakb.blogspot.com/Recommend
Bye byeee Georgee!
if you truly were a Pakistani you wouldn’t be leaving because we will never abandon our country nomatter and will fight for it till the end.
if you cant be with us at our worst times then you don’t deserve us at our best either.
goodluck! no hard feelings. ouuww yeeeah.Recommend
@Riz: I don’t know who you are fooling? Pakistanis in the West don’t wish to be called Indian Muslims any more than Arabs wish to be called their semitic neighbors the Israelis. In fact for most native Pakistanis, particularly Pashtun, Baluch, Kashmiri and Punjabi, being called an Indian is still seen as a curse. I suspect you yourself are some Indian who has his own wish projections about Akhund Bharat.Those of us who are educated see the scourge of terrorism for what it is- criminality that has nothing do with our faith or nationality. We also know why the region has been destabilized in the great game of foreign powers including the time of the Soviet invasion. As for the presence of confused Pakistanis; Yes there are some black sheep who will try everything to disavow their background and try to pretend that they are new citizens of their adopted land but invariably they incur the ridicule of both the natives of their adopted land as well as other Pakistanis.George has gone home- good for him. Our home remains our home because it is ours alone. We have made mistakes but we can fix them as well.Recommend
@Zain: Give it a rest “Zain” ; You’re not a British Pakistani but a British Indian. No one in Britain who is Pakistani says he is Indian and no one who is Arab in USA says he is Israeli because they don’t won’t to be associated with the problems of Muslim countries.Recommend
The article is exactly what it is: a personal perspective, though the tone is quite venomous. I wish George had written something about his good times in Pakistan at least for comparision sake.
I wonder how did you survive your “good” 9 years George? (Supposedly the best under the last army rule:)& other than your mom-in-law what exactly motivated you to finally leave so abruptly?
By the way I’vve attended a live talk by Dr Pervaiz Hoodbhoy. He only has a narrative but no answers or solutions.Recommend
no, Mr. George! don’t be so impulsive in drawing conclusions. Things are not so simple as you’ve supposed. The very analogy of your love affair is wrong. your relationship with Pakistan is not a simple matter of infatuation, it is rather a case of “filial ingratitude”.
Pakistan, as a mother, adopted you after you had been motherless in your own land. This land adopted you, gave you all the filial love and care, kept you warm long enough to shake off the chill of your bones caused by your native hate and indifference.
Today, you decide to quit when your mom is bleeding, sick and dying. But never think it’s over. If she can help you grow stronger enough to be indifferent to any human weakness, she also can grow flowers in the native mud.
Our Sufi poets like Waris Shah and Mian Muhammad Bakhsh already told us of your kind of sons, but we believe in love and sacrifice. Yes, sometimes, we even start killing in the name of love.
Your very own Shakespeare’s character says:
“……….filial ingratitude,
Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand,
For lifting food to it.”Recommend
@Zubair Khan:
Mister Zubair, i reall feel for u, listening a foreigner remarks about ur country and then ur Army and then really believing them is insane. it is the same as u go to america or Britain and live there 9 years and just after 15 years u start pointing out problems in that country and come out. just think on the first place do u ever had any right to point out there problems, NO
it was never your country never it will be. You dont like that place just go away. and dude!
this Army giving sacrificing and will keep on sacrificing, and what they demand in return from you? just respect. It is the Army that is preventing a total collapse. Just see around what is the thing after which all the world is?
Economy, Industry, Electricity, Trade?? NO
we have nothing? then still why we r not collapsed?
its only this institution which is preventing that to happen. and had it not been here. Whole country would have been handed over to Rascal TTP.
I recommend you should study more and then have an opinion about your own damn Army. May GOD be with youRecommend
@ george
You came at your will, you r going at your own. It was bound to happen that you return and here it happens. Good Luck
but watever u said isn’t true. calling our Army the bad name, you dont have any right to do so. You dont like this place just go away.
Difficult times come in nation’s life. This is one of them. Man is the one who standby with this comrades his countrymen when they need him the most. those who went away in difficult times, they dont have a country at all.Recommend
u leave because its the easy thing to do.Recommend
Dear George,
How come when Hindus slaughter Muslims and other minorities it does not become a failed state but TTP killings make Pakistan a failed state? You seems to speak the language of western media who thinks India can do no wrong and Pakistan is the cause for all ills in the world. Thanks for 9 years. Good luck in UK.Recommend
Another sad news
http://www.facebook.com/notes/moeed-pirzada/fahd-hussain-also-left-dunya-tv/197331636954442Recommend
Compliments to George for an exhaustive description and analysis of the prevailing situation. Obviously, areas requiring elaborations and missing links with respect to local customs, culture and traditions exist.However, the narrative fails to propose any hints as to ways and means to adopt a corrective path. It is proposed that George’s narrative is read along with the concepts contained in http://www.yata-alliance.org. The urgent requirement is to come up with guidelines, concepts and ideas leading to arresting of the situation as a minimum.Recommend
I have hope and I pray to God that it remains with me, because even though I have the opportunity to leave, I want to stay and make my life here. This country is my first love, my first and last addiction and my canvas.
… rabiakb@blogspot.comRecommend
Now that you have decided to leave Pk, and I think its a wise move, at least play your part and be an active critic of the British Govt’s policies supporting the wars for profit and feeding curropt leaders of 4rd world countries like Pakistan for their own benefit.Recommend
We all have a choice. We all quote Imran Khan and consider him a hero. I salute him for making a choice. He could have easily retired and stayed in UK. But he preffered his country over everything, ultimately even leaving his wife. I totally agree with everything you have said George, i seriously do. But i would not give up on my country or its people, you think i might be disillusioned, and probably all of us are, but i guess thats the difference, with all the bad that this country has, it survives, and it will survive. Because their our people who still believe that they can make a difference.
I myself was shocked with Taseer’s death, and i realized every third person in our society is of the same opinion, but you need to give this country time, it is in its juvenile state, and it probably is taking longer then usual to mature. And i believe every big nation has gone through the same phase, USA, UK, i am sure if you read history the early 18th and 19th century was full of bloodshed, because they were still trying to explore their identity, the difference is 21st century is a more educated century, and in our case education is what we lack. In due time i am sure , things will change and will be better (disillusioned i guess), but i believe every nation has a leader, and ours still has to come (ofcourse after Jinnah). And i am sure when your son Faiz grows up, he might even ask you “why did you leave such an amazing country like Pakistan?” I hope by then things will be better and if not then i would be proven wrong and you can show him the two articles that you wrote:).
I loved your columns, and i feel you could make a difference if you stayed. We all wish you would reconsider.
Regards
AhmedRecommend
Thank you for reducing number of losers on the land of Pakistan.Recommend
George you haven’t done your research and your piece is immature.
It’s like if I go to America, start calling the US military a ‘mercenary force’ without regard for the honour of hundreds of thousands US servicemen and their families, and when people stop loving me a bit I just pack my bags and blame the US-military-CIA-industrial complex and rant about how the US is destined to fail as a country.
Just because you are ‘white’ doesn’t mean your views must be given the very highest regards compared to the rest of us. Many Pakistanis raise your concerns, and many disagree, but none throw a tantrum. You’ve only succeeded in giving credibility to people in our country who think westerners are arrogant, selfish, demeaning and unreliable.
No country is perfect, and neither are you. So BYE BYE :DRecommend
Since your mother-in-law has asked you to leave you really must oblige.
Sad that you think it appropriate to quote someone’s SMS publicly.
As for your censure of the view that many blame the CIA, RAW and MOSSAD for the troubles we face – the case of Raymond Davis is a clear indication that there is notorious activity being undertaken by these agencies for the destabilization of Pakistan. This can no longer be labelled as paranoia.
All that you have to say about Pakistan is your own opinion – and all spoken as an outsider.Recommend
I don’t blame you George as I feel this same frustration. But I can’t leave Pakistan, I don’t have that luxury. Even if I do leave, everyone I care for is still here. So it doesn’t serve my purpose. I have made my choice to stay, i.e. stay and fight – my own little war of ideas. Ideas that are not accepted and tolerated here but I will still fight.
Anyhow, I wish you, Kiren and Faiz best of life.Recommend