ISLAMABAD:
Today, I wish to share with you a personal experience. Three decades ago, I was deputed to Saudi Arabia as an air force officer to help the kingdom for a possible role in the Iraq-Iran war. We were sent to Saudi Arabia and according to protocol, were paid a reasonable salary for the deputation in the country.
One fine morning, two Pakistani army generals came to the kingdom and pleaded with Saudi officials to cut the salary of the Pakistani deputationists by half. The visiting generals convinced the Saudis that we would not only continue to work at half the salary, but shall work with the same zeal and vigour as before. The Saudis obliged and the salary was reduced to half, as asked.
Few days later, I had to attend a meeting with a senior Saudi officer who happened to be a prince as well. Before the formal meeting, the issue of our pay reduction came up. The prince commented: “People from different countries have come here for work. The representatives of these countries keep imploring us to increase the salaries of their countrymen. You Pakistanis are strange people. Your government wants your salaries to be reduced.” I could not find words to justify this act on the part of the government and was embarrassed by the situation.
Now again, our government is all set to ask the Swiss authorities to re-open cases relating to our president. The Swiss may ask when presidents around the world have immunity from prosecution, why do you want your president to be put in the dock. Why can’t you wait for him to retire?
The government functionaries dealing with the Swiss would feel the same embarrassment that I faced three decades ago. We seem to be the kind of people who like to inflict pain and humiliation on ourselves, as was witnessed once again on Youm-e-Ishq-e-Rasool. We are indeed strange people.
Zulfiqar Haider
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2012.
