Unwelcome guests
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Editorial, The News International, Pakistan
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Nothing is ever simple. With over a million people now spilled out of the war zone in NWFP, most of them ethnic Pashtuns, it was probably inevitable that there was going to be a point at which they encountered anomie. The rich diversity of the peoples of Pakistan has never been forged into a strength, and is eternally exploited by those whose narrow and often nationalistic fervour sees threat at every turn of the road – and, as is currently the case – some of those moving on it. The IDPs now travelling in all directions did not have their current misfortune as a part of their life-plan. Most of them were settled and, until the Taliban came into their lives, reasonably happy – or as happy as may be possible given the constraints of poverty and lack of development in many an area that was, and still is, their home. That they are on the road or in camps or enjoying the hospitality of friends and extended family is not a situation they have themselves sought in any way; and they are entirely the victims of circumstance. As such they are entitled to a good deal of latitude and the support of all of us – and the great Pakistani public, rich and poor, has displayed its innate humanitarian instinct by donating relief goods in significant quantities. By contrast some of our politicians have again shown their true colours and revealed themselves as grubby little xenophobes eager to fan ethnic frictions into flame.
Karachi in particular and Sindh more generally has seen two days of strikes, the destruction of life and property, the loss of trade and business and an all-round disruption of life for everybody – whatever their ethnicity. All this upheaval is by way of protest against the ‘influx’ of IDP’s from Malakand division and NWFP. At the Sindh-Punjab border the provincial administration stopped a number of buses which were bringing displaced people from NWFP and there are reported to be about 4,000 IDP families currently registered with the Sindh provincial government. The protest and strikes have been led by the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) who were at least in spirit aided and abetted by elements of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) with some behind-curtain support from the PPP. The ANP has rejected the JSQM/MQM calls for strikes saying they are ‘against Pashtuns’ – an interpretation hard to disagree with, and the coalition that governs Sindh is looking decidedly shaky. Punjab has not helped those on the road much either – saying that no IDP camps would be established in the province but that Punjab would happily support the camps set up in NWFP.
The IDPs were en-route as the result of an invitation issued by Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri after the provincial government gave a clear message that Sindh would welcome them – a welcome not extended by all. As ever the roots of the problem lie in history near and far. Memories of the Afghan refugees who changed the face not just of Karachi but much of Pakistan are fresh. Older memories are of partition and still older of simmering enmities that are centuries-old – and all brought together in the midsummer hothouse of Karachi which is already at boiling-point as a result of loadshedding. It takes very little to ignite this combustible mix, and it is an act of considerable political irresponsibility to make the spark which may do just that. The IDPs are suddenly everybody’s problem – and nobody’s at the same time, other than the government of NWFP that is. Somewhere in the midst of all this there is an identity that transcends ethnicity – these homeless people are Pakistanis, not foreigners. They have a constitutional right to travel and settle freely in their own country. They are displaced because of the actions of their own government in Islamabad. Most of them will want to get back home as fast as they can. Stigmatising and demonising them is no way to treat people whose misfortune is created other than by themselves; and those poison-tongued politicians who serve their own narrow interests need to button their lips. We have problems enough without creating an extra set of feet to shoot ourselves in.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Nothing is ever simple. With over a million people now spilled out of the war zone in NWFP, most of them ethnic Pashtuns, it was probably inevitable that there was going to be a point at which they encountered anomie. The rich diversity of the peoples of Pakistan has never been forged into a strength, and is eternally exploited by those whose narrow and often nationalistic fervour sees threat at every turn of the road – and, as is currently the case – some of those moving on it. The IDPs now travelling in all directions did not have their current misfortune as a part of their life-plan. Most of them were settled and, until the Taliban came into their lives, reasonably happy – or as happy as may be possible given the constraints of poverty and lack of development in many an area that was, and still is, their home. That they are on the road or in camps or enjoying the hospitality of friends and extended family is not a situation they have themselves sought in any way; and they are entirely the victims of circumstance. As such they are entitled to a good deal of latitude and the support of all of us – and the great Pakistani public, rich and poor, has displayed its innate humanitarian instinct by donating relief goods in significant quantities. By contrast some of our politicians have again shown their true colours and revealed themselves as grubby little xenophobes eager to fan ethnic frictions into flame.
Karachi in particular and Sindh more generally has seen two days of strikes, the destruction of life and property, the loss of trade and business and an all-round disruption of life for everybody – whatever their ethnicity. All this upheaval is by way of protest against the ‘influx’ of IDP’s from Malakand division and NWFP. At the Sindh-Punjab border the provincial administration stopped a number of buses which were bringing displaced people from NWFP and there are reported to be about 4,000 IDP families currently registered with the Sindh provincial government. The protest and strikes have been led by the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) who were at least in spirit aided and abetted by elements of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) with some behind-curtain support from the PPP. The ANP has rejected the JSQM/MQM calls for strikes saying they are ‘against Pashtuns’ – an interpretation hard to disagree with, and the coalition that governs Sindh is looking decidedly shaky. Punjab has not helped those on the road much either – saying that no IDP camps would be established in the province but that Punjab would happily support the camps set up in NWFP.
The IDPs were en-route as the result of an invitation issued by Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri after the provincial government gave a clear message that Sindh would welcome them – a welcome not extended by all. As ever the roots of the problem lie in history near and far. Memories of the Afghan refugees who changed the face not just of Karachi but much of Pakistan are fresh. Older memories are of partition and still older of simmering enmities that are centuries-old – and all brought together in the midsummer hothouse of Karachi which is already at boiling-point as a result of loadshedding. It takes very little to ignite this combustible mix, and it is an act of considerable political irresponsibility to make the spark which may do just that. The IDPs are suddenly everybody’s problem – and nobody’s at the same time, other than the government of NWFP that is. Somewhere in the midst of all this there is an identity that transcends ethnicity – these homeless people are Pakistanis, not foreigners. They have a constitutional right to travel and settle freely in their own country. They are displaced because of the actions of their own government in Islamabad. Most of them will want to get back home as fast as they can. Stigmatising and demonising them is no way to treat people whose misfortune is created other than by themselves; and those poison-tongued politicians who serve their own narrow interests need to button their lips. We have problems enough without creating an extra set of feet to shoot ourselves in.
Labels: IDPs, Karachi, Refugees, Sindh, Swat Operation, Taliban, Terrorism
posted @ 9:45 AM,
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