I really try to stay away from politics because it gets my blood boiling. But I thought with everything that is going on I just have to get it out.
Let’s begin with Pakistan. Without going into details, last week the opposition of Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, was ousted from office in a no-confidence vote in parliament in the early hours of Sunday (normally the courts are closed on Sunday, but the opposition made them open it) after three years and seven months in power. It was interesting to learn that actually, not a single prime has lasted the full 5 years, but anyways Khan was the first to be ousted on a no-confidence vote.
With Khan ousted it paves the way for the leader of the opposition Shahbaz Sharif, to become prime minister. And this is where the problem lies. Pakistan is a third world country and Imran Khan brought promising change and hope to a world that was in dire need of it. He has accused the US of colluding with his opposition to remove him (although both deny it). For me regardless of who said what and what actually happened what remains is a good man has been removed and in replacement a man who is the brother of the former prime minister who was jailed due to his corruption, and this is what angers me. Because a country like Pakistan does not need a leader who is associated and/or deals with corruption because what kind of example does that give, not saying that Khan is perfect or he is a leader who hasn’t made any mistakes/decisions but he was a true leader that didn’t put himself first but his country. And that is the kind of man Pakistan needs, his message of anti-corruption was amplified and was one of the reasons why he was first elected. He made much-needed changes to the social welfare system introducing a health insurance scheme that favoured the poor.
Whether or not the US colluded with the opposition to oust him, Pakistan has lost a good man to people who are associated with corruption. A quote that is very apt, ‘the return of looters and a good man sent home.’ But is Imran Khan going without a fight, absolutely not! With worldwide mass protests in favour of Khan, tens of thousands of people are protesting his removal (with one just in Small-Heath yesterday, Manchester, the embassy in London. He is a man who has earned support because of what he stands for. Khan tweeted ‘Never have such crowds come out so spontaneously and in such numbers in our history, rejecting the imported govt led by crooks.’ and his fighting spirit ‘my message to our nation is I have always and will continue to fight for Pak till the last ball.’ I have faith that he will regain power and I pray that whatever happens, happens for the best, he is a man with good intentions, with Islam at the root of all he does, and I am eagerly waiting for his return.
That leads me to my next point. Leaders. The biggest question I have is why are we electing leaders when their views and/or actions make us realise that they are anything but. The fact that Boris Johnson and Sunak did not resign is so humiliating, the rules *they* made, they broke and have no remorse or guilt for their actions. What kind of example are they to the younger generation? The whole cabinet is a complete joke, from Hancox having an affair- I mean each to their own- from others throwing birthday parties when elderly people in care homes couldn’t have visitors, to the whole Cummings debacle and the tax row. It is disgusting. And really if a no-confidence vote should be used it should be now. The world is facing a global migrant crisis but what is being highlighted in the UK is that the system is so deeply rooted in institutional racism. This is emphasised through the difference in treatment of Ukraine refugees and those of an ethnic minority background. It certainly did not come as a shock to hear that the refugees from Africa/Middle East were sent to Rwanda whilst white Ukrainians were allowed to seek asylum. The place that Boris Johnson just a few years back had called out Rwanda for their mistreatment and their concentration camps, and now he is sending refugees there. It’s hypocrisy, it’s racism and this is our leader our figure representing the world highlighting how ‘diverse’ we are.
In France, Macron was leading the polls (last time I checked) normalising people with far-right racist and Islam/transphobic views, this is the man representing France. Likewise, come 2024 will Trump stand again, Russia and China leaders are no less. China’s treatment of Uighur Muslims and again another case that has been dismissed because leaders with power and influence did not do anything. It’s what happened with Afghanistan the UK was slow to respond and even then did not take as many refugees as they could have. The attacks on Palestine- just recently- and more so last year, there was hardly any action taken. It is even in the little things such as coverage, how much coverage Ukraine got compared to the ongoing war in Palestine, and Afghanistan, I could go on. I am not suggesting favouring one over the other, I am suggesting the same treatment for everyone rather than allowing refugees even more dangerous crossings into borders because of them being displaced to places like Rwanda. I am saying elect leaders who don’t have their own selfish reasons in favour of what is right, and of the people. I am saying to take a stand and make these leaders aware of their actions and demand consequences as they are so quick to set rules but not so much implying it for themselves. The world is in desperate need of good leaders, and the leaders we have at the moment… well quite frankly it is scary and damaging and disgusting that they are examples to the generation below us. Change needs to happen, and if it doesn’t happen quickly, it makes me very concerned about the future world and generations.
Comments