'Democracy' with daddykins

The Pakistani embassy in Malta has played host to the High Commissioner on a mission - with his son?

Ebrahim Saeed November 23, 2010
Some of you may have witnessed a flurry of photographs on Facebook some time back boasting the Matrix-like poses of a young fellow of no more than 25, receiving in his words ‘the gun salute and government protocol in Malta.’

Under what authority may I ask?

Another bombastic snap provides the answer to the mystery, our hero in tow with the Pakistani High Commissioner to Malta at the Maltese Presidential Palace with the caption reading “aka Dad”!

Apparently, the highest positions of our Foreign Office are now decreed under inheritance laws. Father and son on a mission to build the country’s credibility as a democracy – I am sure the President of Malta was honoured to receive our dapper ‘hero in diapers’. In all likelihood, he is not even an employee of the Pakistan government and even if he is, there are serious doubts around his qualifications. As I write, I find my fingers dancing on the keyboard to the rhythm of cynicism drawing my attention to the highest office in our dear nation; a first in history of a father inheriting from his son the right to dictate a democracy.

What a strange sentence, I have had to re-read it myself only to sigh with disgrace – it is all true.

My intention is not to reprimand this young man for his childish enthusiasm; he is not to blame, that burden lies with his father, and all the other fathers in our great nation who are cradling their sons to inherit their failures. I pity them both but most of all, I pity the ordinary office workers in our High Commission who must have to answer to this prodigal son after having loyally served our country perhaps for decades with only the promise of a future rewarded with serving these sons of our masters.  Those who have the qualifications and have earned the right to be our representatives are forced to take the back seat and bequeath their hard earned positions to the children of our elite – how shameful.

Will the Foreign Office please take notice?
WRITTEN BY:
Ebrahim Saeed A Pakistani professional working in London. He grew up in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and is actively involved with charitable organisations working in Pakistan
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (12)

Deen Sheikh | 13 years ago | Reply Well we do have quite a few sifarshee ambassadors and embassy staff world wide. My friend a well known local business man in Karachi, when he was in Tripoli, he was invited to the Pakistani embassy there, and he came to learn that the current ambassador there was the night guard on duty at the prison, where Mr President spent a fair few years of his life. Good God, sincerely we need serious merit in the process of developing our foreign relations.
Saad Durrani | 13 years ago | Reply @Syed Nadir El-Edroos: After a long time, I agree.
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