Pakistani-Americans hope to inspire change through votes
ECP's recommendation to allow overseas Pakistanis voting right is positive for democracy, say those in America.
WASHINGTON:
They might have chosen to live outside of Pakistan, but for overseas Pakistanis the age-old adage is true: home is where the heart is.
Earlier this month, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) recommended that Pakistanis living abroad should be allowed voting rights in the 2013 general elections. Such a move has been long demanded by Pakistanis living abroad and will include millions residing in various parts of the world in the electoral process. This change in ECP rules might also see an increase in political activity overseas as numerous politicians, notably former president Pervez Musharraf, have been actively campaigning abroad.
Awais Khan, chief executive officer of the American Pakistan Foundation and an American citizen, believes that it will be a positive development if the recommendation is accepted. “Pakistan is currently at a profound crossroads and is dealing with massive economic, social and foreign policy challenges. The younger population is fed up with the status quo and is demanding change. Change at a national scale, however, comes through the political process and therefore each vote matters,” he says.
“I will vote if given the right. I think the democratic process involves rewarding good and punishing bad behaviour, and I think our votes are essentially the only systematic way to do that,” says Ahsan Butt, a Pakistani student currently based in Boston and pursuing his PhD.
Allowing Pakistanis in the US to vote in their home country’s elections could add a significant number of people to the electoral rolls.
“There are at least 410,000 Pakistanis here. That means those of Pakistani origin, including those that were born here and those who emigrated from Pakistan and became citizens. At least 300,000 of them are above the age of 18 and hence potential voters,” says Professor Dr Mehtab Karim of George Mason University who is compiling a research report on the Pakistani community in the US.
Prof. Karim believes that the Pakistani population in the US important because they’re educated and have a good income. “They should participate in whatever way they can, in Pakistan and in the US, since they’re allowed to have dual citizenship.”
But many argue that by virtue of choosing not to live in Pakistan, those who live abroad have ‘relinquished’ their right to have a say in the country’s political decisions. Those who do live abroad disagree.
Overseas Pakistanis have a major stake in the future of Pakistan, Khan says. “They not only immensely benefit Pakistan’s economy through Foreign Direct Investment and by contributing more than $1 billion per month in remittances to Pakistan, but also play an important role in strengthening political and business ties with the country of residence,” he argues.
Butt acknowledges what he calls the ‘no pain, no gain’ argument, but agrees with Khan. “I certainly understand the argument that says that unless you’re living in Pakistan and putting up with all that is [wrong] there, you shouldn’t be able to derive the benefits of voting. But I think it’s worth remembering that even if we individually aren’t there, in many cases our families are there, our friends are there, and as such we’re as concerned about the country as anyone else.”
Furthermore, he says, it will bring Pakistan into line with democracies across the globe such as Britain and the US who do allow their citizens to vote even if they live abroad.
Ayesha*, a Pakistani-American citizen, says, “Absentee ballots express the opinions of Pakistani citizens abroad, who have all the qualifications to vote but cannot because they live abroad.”
*Name has been changed to protect privacy
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2011.
They might have chosen to live outside of Pakistan, but for overseas Pakistanis the age-old adage is true: home is where the heart is.
Earlier this month, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) recommended that Pakistanis living abroad should be allowed voting rights in the 2013 general elections. Such a move has been long demanded by Pakistanis living abroad and will include millions residing in various parts of the world in the electoral process. This change in ECP rules might also see an increase in political activity overseas as numerous politicians, notably former president Pervez Musharraf, have been actively campaigning abroad.
Awais Khan, chief executive officer of the American Pakistan Foundation and an American citizen, believes that it will be a positive development if the recommendation is accepted. “Pakistan is currently at a profound crossroads and is dealing with massive economic, social and foreign policy challenges. The younger population is fed up with the status quo and is demanding change. Change at a national scale, however, comes through the political process and therefore each vote matters,” he says.
“I will vote if given the right. I think the democratic process involves rewarding good and punishing bad behaviour, and I think our votes are essentially the only systematic way to do that,” says Ahsan Butt, a Pakistani student currently based in Boston and pursuing his PhD.
Allowing Pakistanis in the US to vote in their home country’s elections could add a significant number of people to the electoral rolls.
“There are at least 410,000 Pakistanis here. That means those of Pakistani origin, including those that were born here and those who emigrated from Pakistan and became citizens. At least 300,000 of them are above the age of 18 and hence potential voters,” says Professor Dr Mehtab Karim of George Mason University who is compiling a research report on the Pakistani community in the US.
Prof. Karim believes that the Pakistani population in the US important because they’re educated and have a good income. “They should participate in whatever way they can, in Pakistan and in the US, since they’re allowed to have dual citizenship.”
But many argue that by virtue of choosing not to live in Pakistan, those who live abroad have ‘relinquished’ their right to have a say in the country’s political decisions. Those who do live abroad disagree.
Overseas Pakistanis have a major stake in the future of Pakistan, Khan says. “They not only immensely benefit Pakistan’s economy through Foreign Direct Investment and by contributing more than $1 billion per month in remittances to Pakistan, but also play an important role in strengthening political and business ties with the country of residence,” he argues.
Butt acknowledges what he calls the ‘no pain, no gain’ argument, but agrees with Khan. “I certainly understand the argument that says that unless you’re living in Pakistan and putting up with all that is [wrong] there, you shouldn’t be able to derive the benefits of voting. But I think it’s worth remembering that even if we individually aren’t there, in many cases our families are there, our friends are there, and as such we’re as concerned about the country as anyone else.”
Furthermore, he says, it will bring Pakistan into line with democracies across the globe such as Britain and the US who do allow their citizens to vote even if they live abroad.
Ayesha*, a Pakistani-American citizen, says, “Absentee ballots express the opinions of Pakistani citizens abroad, who have all the qualifications to vote but cannot because they live abroad.”
*Name has been changed to protect privacy
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2011.