The role played by expatriate Pakistanis in the recent anti-government protests has forced political scientists to consider them important actors in the country’s future politics.

They acted as a catalyst in the process and intensified the political crisis by making generous donations to and launching social media campaigns in favour of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek.

A considerable number of Pakistani expatriates, mainly settled in Europe and North America, were also physically present in the PTI and PAT sit-ins in Islamabad.

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The Pakistani diaspora communities may not be looking for a dominant political role here but they certainly want to see radical changes and reforms in Pakistani state and society. Pakistanis settled in Europe and North America have maintained strong links with their native towns.

But their views about their hometowns and people have gradually changed. Many factors have contributed to reshaping their perceptions.

Pakistan’s political parties try to maintain good relations with diaspora communities.

Some research studies conducted to understand the changing behaviour of diaspora communities indicate that the desire to support their home countries was strong among the first two immigrant generations from Muslim countries, but it was more a matter of financial support than political activism.

However, among the diaspora youth, growing feelings of alienation have diverted their attention back to their parents’ countries.

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Though this is not a uniform trend among diaspora communities in Western societies, if it intensifies, this process will directly affect the political, religious and social discourse of the diaspora communities’ countries of origin.

There is a general perception among Pakistanis living abroad that Pakistan was created in the name of Islam. Being Muslim, an average Pakistani takes religion seriously and wants to see it in the public domain. Nevertheless, a substantial number do not practise the tenets of religion in their daily life.

The first generation of immigrants would have felt that they were in entirely new and advanced sociocultural settings. They and their succeeding generations have been struggling since then to adjust in their host societies without discarding their traditions and their native lands’ socio-cultural and religious norms and values.

Besides some structural factors, the issues of Pakistani immigrants’ cultural alienation and identity construction have also remained subject to some instantaneous triggers over time, in particular the incidents of 9/11 and 7/7 (the London attacks), the war against terrorism, ‘Islamophobia’ and the role of media in their host societies.

However, it is the second and third generation of Pakistani immigrants, the ones that migrated after the 1970s, who are particularly struggling to resolve their identity conflict, which mainly emanates from the distinct socio-cultural realities of their native and host societies.

They are also confused on how to counter ‘negative perceptions’ of themselves, even more so about Islam.

According to a 2010 opinion poll commissioned by Exploring Islam Foundation, “Muslim youths believe that the whole ‘identity crisis business’ — the view that confusion among new generations of Muslim immigrants about their cultural identity tends to push them towards extremism — has been exaggerated to fit a stereotype image of Muslims”.

This factor also encourages diaspora youths to get connected with their parents’ cultural, religious and political roots.

Interestingly, Pakistani diaspora communities in the West consider politics not only a means to change their home societies according to their perceptions but also an entry point into the power structure of the country.

Obviously, new political parties are best suited to provide these opportunities. In response, their support for political parties comes in the form of funds and political campaigns in their native towns. Their money becomes available mostly on or around election day.

Representatives of political parties call them and visit them abroad to garner their support, which is mainly financial.

Some of them even come to their native areas in Pakistan ahead of elections to campaign for the candidates they support.

Political parties try to maintain good relations with diaspora communities because the latter can influence their families and relatives in their native lands to vote for those parties’ candidates.

Immigrants’ financial support for their relatives and friends plays a key role in influencing the latter’s political choices. Also, support on the basis of a common biradari is a powerful element in Pakistani politics.

Pakistani diaspora communities also have to take this factor into consideration while supporting candidates in elections. However, this factor is more visible in rural areas while in urban areas it is not as strong.

Pakistani immigrants cannot win elections in Pakistan as independent candidates.

However, if they are willing to spend money they can get a ticket from one of the leading political parties as their candidate.

Further, they can use their money to enhance their profile in their area and in the ranks of the party. This in return gets them votes from the party’s supporters.

Pakistani immigrants from rural and urban parts of Azad Kashmir and north Punjab are found to be more active in Pakistani politics compared to those hailing from Karachi, KP and central Punjab.

There are some Pakistani immigrants belonging to the north and central Punjab who are also actively engaged in their host countries’ politics.

For instance, the parents of British-Pakistani Sayeeda Warsi, former minister of state for faith and communities, had migrated from Bewal, Gujjar Khan to Britain. Similarly, the ancestors of another British-Pakistani Sajjad Karim, a member of the European Parliament for northwest England, hailed from Karari Wala village of Mandi Bahauddin.

These exceptions notwithstanding, the majority of Pakistani diaspora communities feel more comfortable with the politics of their home societies.

Also, in terms of political and ideological perspectives, Pakistani immigrants’ views are more or less in sync with the general public’s perceptions prevalent across Pakistan.

These political and ideological similarities encourage them to actively participate in Pakistan’s politics. There is no sign that the political bond will weaken in the near future, and Pakistani political parties and Pakistani diaspora will continue to support each other.

The writer is a security analyst.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2014