The floods in Pakistan have caused massive destruction. Killing thousands and rendering millions homeless, this is the most devastating flood disaster in our history. Almost 10 percent of the population has been affected, their crops annihilated and their homes submerged. The International Red Cross has said, “in the worst affected areas, in addition to other damage, floodwaters have destroyed much of the health infrastructure, leaving people particularly vulnerable to water-borne disease.”
Our stonehearted government has failed. An estimated 4 million people have been rendered homeless, and 8 million dependent on aid for their very survival. While our nation was undergoing this incredible natural disaster and its people sobbed and pleaded for help, our president was on a European joyride. Ignoring the thousands of his own people desperate for even a morsel of bread, he spent millions from the national kitty to stay in expensive hotels. While our president enjoyed himself in France and Britain and the country was desperate for aid, he was focused on his son's entry into politics. While flood victims went without shelter, our so-called democratic president stayed in ritzy hotels with his son and daughter.
He toured France and visited his luxurious home there, while his miserable and depressed nation mourned for their homes, submerged by flooding. Then he visited England under the pretext that he needed to negotiate with Cameron about the British leader's statement in India. But a pretext is all it was. He accomplished only the fulfillment of his own desires and interests. Whether the British government responded positively to Zardari's demands is another question.
While in Britain, a man flung a shoe at Zardari. So not only did our president join the "shoe club," but the nation of Pakistan was forced to confront criticism. The international media criticized Zardari's tour because it was inappropriate during such a perilous disaster. But for him, foreign tours are more important than the nation. Yet when he was done in Britain, our president felt the need for more amusement. This time he chose to visit Russia, where he took part in the Sochi summit.
On the issue of putting nation above entertainment, I would suggest that our president take lessons from Russian leaders. President Medvedev cancelled a holiday when he heard his country was in trouble. Perhaps a lecture from Medvedev would change Zardari's nature.
In the aftermath of the disaster, flood victims have accused the government of failing to provide adequate shelter, water, food and medicine. Of course, our democratic government is comprised of corrupt representatives who hold fake university degrees. Inflation and electric shortages are another government gift to its pathetic nation. Cutting the work week by two days was another act of kindness on the part of this government, which cut salaries of those in offices both private and public. Due to electrical shortages, commerce is also on the decline.
People prefer suicide to such misery.
During the flood, our corrupt government had a chance to redeem itself, but instead they proved that they've learned nothing from the past. Our leaders ask for aid, but donors are reluctant, because both here and abroad, donors don't trust our corrupt leaders. There was a time when [Prime Minister] Nawaz Sharif told the nation that he wanted to repay the foreign debt, so the people had to help. At the time, people trusted their leaders. Ladies even gave up their gold jewelry. But our leaders know only too well how to deceive and play with the emotions of the innocent. Now the nation doesn't trust them.
As our Army moves ahead with relief operations, our government eyes the international community for aid. But suspicion is keeps international donations at a sluggish trickle.
Even Arab states have been stingy. India, Pakistan’s much larger and far wealthier neighbor, has offered only a small amount of aid, because it insists that donations go directly to flood victims. No one trusts our government.
In this critical hour, even the U.S. has criticized us. Richard Holbrooke taunted the nation, chiding Pakistan that it always prefers China and Iran - and asking where they are. While China has always supported Pakistan in complicated situations, especially war, it is not now one of the leading donors to flood victims. [Referring to China, Holbrooke is quoted as saying, "Where is Pakistan’s all-weather friend?"]
Because of the nature of our government, we shouldn't criticize states that don't provide us with assistance. International donors cannot trust corrupt leaders, and our current government has a record of violating promises in every regard. Our leaders have lost the trust, not only of their own nation, but that of the international community. Now that our leaders have lost their credibility and been proven unable to cope, people out of government are moving ahead to find help.
If the government has so severely lost its credibility, what will it do when this disaster ends and the victims have lost all of their property, shelter and crops? Without foreign aid, how will our government address the future of flood victims? Pakistani officials should open their eyes and pay attention to their constituents rather than to their own bank accounts. Elected based on slogans like, "Roti, Kapra, Aur Makan" [Bread, Clothes, and Homes], Pakistan's leaders take no notice that is what the nation's afflicted are desperate for.
Our government does nothing while it should be launching projects to redevelop flood-affected areas. If the situation and the government's attitude continues as it has for the past three years, another flood will soon follow, reminding us again that our stonehearted leaders merely play with our emotions.
