The overseas Pakistani vote must not be dismissed

The annual conference of Pakistani physicians working in the United States, the latest edition of which took place this month in Dallas, Texas, is always held in the summer months. In recent years, as Pakistan has transitioned into a democracy with various political parties vying for support, the event has been the scene of substantive political discussions.

Major political players from all of Pakistan’s main political parties — the Pakistan Muslim League (and its various branches), the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf — have all spoken at the podium during the event. The rewards of doing so are great: Many overseas Pakistanis contribute to the campaign funds of various candidates. Even though they may live far away, Pakistani physicians in the US remain committed to supporting the democratic process in their native country.

What has been true of previous elections is also true of the election to be held on July 25, 2018: Pakistanis in the US, physicians and others, have been enthralled by the compelling dramatics of the political campaigns and manifestos, and the arrests and disqualifications that have taken place.

This interest is not limited to Pakistanis in the US; given that Pakistan is a labor-exporting country, the number of Pakistanis living abroad is ever increasing. In addition to the US, Pakistanis are part of communities across Europe, Australia and, of course, East Asia and the Middle East. The cumulative remittances sent back by these many Pakistanis amount, according to the State Bank of Pakistan, to $19.3 billion, a figure that is expected to continue to rise, with the State Bank forecasting almost $21 billion this year.

But even while overseas Pakistanis are sending back the money that keeps Pakistan flush with foreign exchange, not all of their countrymen are happy with the fact that these expatriates are permitted to vote. Some who are against overseas Pakistanis having the right to vote argue that those living abroad are not aware of the ground-level realities in Pakistan — political, economic or social — and hence should not be permitted to participate in elections. As far as these people are concerned, being physically remote from the country equates to an inability to understand what the country needs and what is the best course for it.

This is a gross misunderstanding of what it is to be an overseas Pakistani. First, even those Pakistanis who have resided abroad, particularly in Gulf countries, for decades maintain strong familial and economic ties with Pakistan. While some, such as the physicians working in the US, might have choices regarding where they work and live, most Pakistanis leave the country simply because they cannot find gainful employment in their home country.

The lack of opportunities in Pakistan’s labor market is not a new reality and is the very basis on which the country has become a labor-exporting market. This export of labor is even a recognized facet of Pakistan’s current foreign policy, such that agreements to formally send workers to countries are constantly being negotiated. Pakistan just signed, for example, a memorandum of understanding with South Korea that will increase the number of Pakistanis working in that country. South Korea is already home to more than 7,000, making it the largest diaspora of Pakistanis in East Asia.

The point of recounting the realities of the Pakistani labor market is simply to underscore the fact that Pakistanis who work overseas are not always there by choice. When employment can only be found in another country, one is forced to leave one’s own land. Most times, these overseas Pakistanis do not have the right to vote in their host country, either. This means that taking away the right to vote from overseas Pakistanis would likely mean that they would not be able to vote anywhere at all.

The realities of the global labor market impose migration on many millions around the world, Pakistanis among them. But even though these individuals physically reside elsewhere, they continue to inhabit the psychological and moral space of their native country. The increasing availability of virtual connections and social-media platforms further means that all Pakistanis, living overseas though they may be, are deeply aware of and connected to what is happening at home.

They can even function as a means of connecting Pakistan to the wider world beyond its borders. This is particularly important in cases where adverse political events within Pakistan (such as the imposition of martial law or military rule) threaten to isolate the country.

This year, the possible implementation of the I-Voting solution by the Election Commission of Pakistan and the National Database & Registration Authority could make voting possible for a large number of overseas Pakistanis. Both agencies have already informed the Pakistan Supreme Court, which is supervising the process, of the efforts that have been made to make it possible for voters to log in and cast their vote on the internet. While it has not yet been implemented, it is hoped that it will be in operation before the polls open on July 25.

Ultimately, a vote is a sign of belonging, one that confers a stake in the direction of the country. Millions of overseas Pakistanis all around the world are eager to have this stake because they care deeply about the future of their country. The Pakistanis who have the privilege of remaining in their home country, of directly participating in political expression, should respect the rights of those who have had to leave. They may be far away, but their hearts and their votes belong to Pakistan and should be counted to help determine the next leaders of the nation.

• Rafia Zakaria is the author of ‘The Upstairs Wife: An Intimate History of Pakistan’ (Beacon 2015) and ‘Veil’ (Bloomsbury 2017). She writes regularly for The Guardian, Boston Review, The New Republic, The New York Times Book Review and many other publications. Twitter: @rafiazakaria