The definition of a political gaffe is when a public figure accidentally tells the world exactly what he is thinking. Adam Thomson, the British high commissioner in Islamabad, was not far off the mark when he called Pakistanis the “world leaders in the visa fraud business” but it is nonetheless a shocking lapse in etiquette from a diplomat who should have known better.
Mr Thomson would have been better off staying quiet at a time when the alleged visa scam reported by a British tabloid is still being investigated by authorities. A diplomat who ends up badmouthing the country where he is serving is unlikely to be very effective at his job. Good diplomacy is conducted quietly behind closed doors, not loudly at press conferences. If there is going to be outrage directed at Mr Thomson for his poor timing and choice of words, then it is fully deserved.
Mr Thomson’s diplomatic lapse, however, should not distract us from the essential truth of what he is saying. Pakistanis have a poor track record when it comes to visa applications. Many of them are so desperate to leave the country that they often end up taking shortcuts by submitting forged documents. Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was once asked in an interview what he thought about the large percentage of Pakistanis who want to emigrate elsewhere. Mr Gilani’s answer was, why then, don’t they leave the country? What he chose to ignore was that they may want to leave the country but there are very few that want to accept them.
Given that Mr Thompson did not exactly exaggerate in his comments, it may be better for the government to simply ignore what he said. Its efforts would be better utilised in investigating the visa scam. Simply firing a few employees and then enveloping yourself in a cocoon of denial is not a strategy worth pursuing. We need to transparently figure out the truth and then take on this serious problem. We must not reach a point where the world shuns us simply because our passports are no longer trusted.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2012.
COMMENTS (16)
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Right and Britian is world number one in financial scams read Libor (London Interbank Offered Rate) scandal. No matter how many scams we may pull off but we can't match the biggest scam in the history.
May be the behind the door deplomacy failed or ...may be .. a deplomat is a human .. so they too can err ...
But off course we are affront to truth. Starting from the school we people are trained to speak lies. Our culture is such that it has gone unrepairable socially. In bussiness you give some body money ,take it granted that it is gone. Our politicians take pride in saying that a good politician never say what he means and over and above there is no accountability left in the system. I would not called the statement of British high commissioner a "gaffe" but a desperate out burst. Every body knows that in western culture from child hood the importance of speaking truth is highlighted and as matter of fact he spoke truth as presently thousands of Pakistanis are spread on a trail of illegal migration from iran, turkey, greece trail. You must have known many around you. It is better that we should start oue own accountability other wise outsiders will start reminding us more often...
And fake degrees by our MNAs, and MPAs. One of the chief ministers says, DEGREE DEGREE HOTI HAY. JAALI HO YA ASLI. Shame on us
Pakistanis are famous in making fake ID cards, Driving licences. passports, affidavits, arms licences, refund of sales tax. what else? Now if someone tells us so then fell angry at the person
@hamid: Please do not blame the current lot of Rulers alone . The blame has to be shared by all the leaders who have ruled Pakistan . Each and every one of them is guilty .
@Mohammad: he proably won't want to go to the US becuase he is BRITISH diplomat!!
TRUTH HURTS.......but Pakistanis are immune to TRUTH...:D
You are so wrong Mr. Diplomat, I got my family visa to USA without cheating.... and planning to get for UK too ..and that's too without cheating.
Government must pack this joker and send him back to USA, he is not diplomat.
Resourceful people these Pakistanis.. Whats got to be done has to be done philosophy
The editor is bypassing the main issue. What is Pakistan doing to ensure that nobody has really used this 'money for Olympic support staff visa' scheme is what the editor should focus on. The outside world doesn't give a damn for what Ali Asad did or what Mr. Rehman Malik is going to do about Ali Asad. They want a categorical assurance from Pakistan that their entourage does not have elements with shady links. That horrific scenario and its prevention thereof is what the editoral board needs to highlight urgently.
@ Editor, " A diplomat who ends up badmouthing the country where he is serving is unlikely to be very effective at his job. Good diplomacy is conducted quietly behind closed doors, not loudly at press conferences."
I completely agree with you. Or "quietly behind closed doors" is over?
Excellent editorial.
Extraordinary gaffe by a diplomatic amateur. And imagine giving such credence to a newspaper like The Sun, part of Murdoch's discredited News International Group. Breath-taking show of bad judgement by the High Commissioner.
@hamid true tht politicians are incompetent but don't throw the bad deeda of other in politicians' pile. We just ignore bureaucracy and military either because they are invisible or too oppressive
The british high commisioner is 100% right about pakistan ... though it is and insulting remark but what can a common man do? it is their own sin that they have elected the current government and the current opposition who dont give a damn to the future of pakistan..al there assets and citizenship are in abroad...when the pakistani ship will sink they will move to the current foreign countries that are maligning pkaistan like other leaders have done before. British high commisioner is a slap on the face of common pakistani public that votes for these failed leaders .
Brilliant piece of .... english, no doubt