Pakistan is once again in the midst of another crisis. Floods triggered by the heavy monsoon rains have left a trail of destruction throughout the country. Images of children and women submerged in waist deep water have beamed around the world. They now face hunger and disease.
With 12 million affected, 650000 homes destroyed over some 132,000 square kilometres. The official death toll is 1,500 and rising. Hundreds of thousands of people are still stranded without shelter or supplies of food and clean water.
During this time, Zardari was touring Europe with his family in order to launch his son’s political career. He was residing in 5 star hotels in the initial days of the disaster the government failed to provide any response. Current relief efforts can only be described as inadequate. Enraged survivors have physically attacked government officials in flood-hit areas, amid widespread anger at the inadequacy of Zardari’s government.
In fact, the following statistics make it clear where the priority lies.
– A special report by the New York Times in 1998 considered Zardari to be worth $1.8 billion. In a list prepared by the Pakistan Daily Asif Ali Zardari is considered the 2nd richest man in Pakistan with total assets worth 1.8 billion. The list highlighted Zardari’s stakes in Sugar Mills all over Pakistan, his huge business ventures in the Middle East which run into hundreds of Millions
– Whilst the PPP government pumped no money into the relief effort it has invested over $35 billion for its part in the America’s war on terror. Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi mentioned this during a news briefing on the 14th November, 2008 in New York, he also confirmed the US has compensated Pakistan with $10 billion for acting as a mercenary force for the US.
– Pakistan spent $10 billion in the Malakand operation that was staged during the summer of 2009.
– In the recent budget announced in March 2010 The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government increased its security budget by over 117% for the year 2010-11 in order to deal with the threat posed by the Taliban insurgency. The Federal government was allocated Rs 21 billion.
This disaster has shown again that Pakistan needs a change of system. Whilst Zardari shores up his own pockets the people of Pakistan do not feature even remotely as a priority for government funds. Whilst Musharraf’s dictatorship sold Pakistan to America, this sham democracy has made Pakistan hostage to corrupt politicians who are only interested in increasing the size of their own bank accounts at the expense of the people of Pakistan.
It’s high time Pakistan changed it’s systems to the Khilafah ruling system.
He stood by the intention of his to avail himself for the opportunistic appointments he made well before the floods that devastated the lives of 4 million fellow citizens. He knew nothing will stop him walking the red carpet flattery however it may look bad to his PR. He must do what he planned to do to groom his heir apparent Bahawal. This shows his callous disregard of the plight of Pakistani people he supposed to serve.