Asif under fire after expatriate slur in NA

APPNA asks minister to apologise for to millions of Pakistanis residing in North America, Europe

The Association of Physicians of Pakistani-Descent of North America (APPNA) has issued a stern condemnation of the recent remarks made by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in the National Assembly.

During his speech on Wednesday, Asif used "condescending and degraded language" when referring to the Pakistani diaspora in the United States and Canada, it said.

In his speech, Asif stated, "English speakers sitting outside of Pakistan are saying that remittance will be stopped… remittances are sent by Gulf countries. Someone is living in Canada, someone in America… these are shameless people, they come back to bury the bodies and then go back."

These comments have drawn severe criticism from APPNA, which labeled them as "glaringly contemptuous" towards Pakistanis in North America and Europe.

APPNA emphasised that the Pakistani diaspora living in the Western world, particularly North America, has always prioritised the welfare of Pakistan. Their countless services to the nation have brought honour and pride, making them the true ambassadors of Pakistan in the global community.

The organisation expressed its disappointment with Asif's derogatory remarks and stressed that political differences should be addressed through civil discourse, devoid of hateful rhetoric.

While APPNA acknowledged the right of overseas Pakistanis to engage in political activities, it condemned any attempt to disparage the entire community. As a non-political organisation, APPNA called for civility and tolerance in political discourse, urging overseas Pakistanis and others to engage respectfully.

APPNA expressed its deep concern over Asif's comments, particularly his assertion that overseas Pakistanis from North America or Europe only visit Pakistan for the purpose of burying their elders or selling property.

The organization deemed these remarks insulting and in extremely poor taste, emphasizing that such sentiments should never be accepted. APPNA also expressed disappointment towards members of the National Assembly who encouraged Asif's outburst without correcting him. The organization suggested that the NA speaker should have taken notice and expunged these hateful words from the parliamentary record.

In response to Asif's remarks, APPNA advised him to read the Islamabad High Court judgment in the "Malik Munsif Awan vs Federation of Pakistan" case of 2020. The judgment affirmed that the patriotism of a Pakistani citizen cannot be doubted unless the state can establish evidence to the contrary. It also stated that individuals holding dual nationality are indeed citizens of Pakistan, and their commitment to the country should never be questioned.

APPNA concluded its statement by appealing to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to take notice of Asif's remarks.

The organization urged Asif to retract his comments and issue an apology to the millions of Pakistanis residing in North America and Europe. Furthermore, APPNA requested that the prime minister reconsider Asif's position in the cabinet, taking into account the gravity of his remarks and their impact on the Pakistani diaspora.