PPP in Dubai
107
FOR every political misstep or transgression by the military in Sindh, the PPP led by former president Asif Ali Zardari appears willing and able to outdo its uniformed counterparts.
The capital of Sindh, where the PPP has been in power for the last seven years, is Karachi.
Karachi is the seat of the provincial government; Karachi is the principal political office of the PPP; Karachi is where Mr Zardari has an enormous and thoroughly fortified home; and Karachi is where the PPP-led government should meet to take decisions concerning the province of Sindh. Not Dubai.
Know more: Shah, 3 ministers attend PPP meeting in Dubai
But Mr Zardari and the PPP appear oblivious to the accepted laws of politics and seem determined to make up their own rules.
What else can explain the Sindh chief minister, Qaim Ali Shah, and several senior ministers flying out to Dubai — on whose expense? — to hold a PPP summit with Mr Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari?
Perhaps it was to discuss the cabinet reshuffle in Sindh. Or perhaps it was to discuss the recent administrative changes in the province, the decisions taken by the apex committee, the upcoming Sindh local government elections or steps taken to prepare for potential flooding in the rural parts of the province. Nothing explains why any of these issues had to be discussed in Dubai.
Is Asif Ali Zardari apprehensive? Is he hiding something? Surely, for a leader who often talks about his years in jail and his supposed fearlessness, this is the wrong time to be outside Pakistan.
Should the public and the media interpret that Mr Zardari is in self-exile, rattled by the recent military-led push against alleged corruption in Sindh? Or is the PPP’s real message that governing Sindh is so easy and problem-free that it can be done remotely from ultra-luxurious Dubai?
It may have seemed impossible, but the PPP government in Sindh appears to be on the verge of outdoing the Aslam Raisani-led previous provincial government in Balochistan in its indifference — and its indifference to its tragically terrible reputation.
Distressing as it may be from a democratic point of view, the juxtaposition between an alert military and disinterested civilians is there for all to see. When a security tragedy strikes, such as the Safoora Goth carnage, the military is seen to go into overdrive.
When a human crisis hits, such as the heatwave-related deaths, the civilians are seen decamping to Dubai. Truly, what is the PPP thinking?
Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2015
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Comments (107) Closed
Jul 23, 2015 01:49am
The editorial asks in the last line as to what is the PPP thinking? The answer is simple. It isn't thinking
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Jul 23, 2015 02:12am
the PPP are the worst corrupt, inept, inefficient and indifferent political party in the history of pakistan. while ordinary sindhis suffer from all sorts of crises and problems their leaders are enjoying time out in dubai.
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Jul 23, 2015 02:34am
"What else can explain the Sindh chief minister, Qaim Ali Shah, and several senior ministers flying out to Dubai — on whose expense? — to hold a PPP summit with Mr Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari? " - It is n't only PPP's top honchos traveling to Dubai on tax payers money. Remember, Ishrat ul Ebad present MQM governor of Sindh he has been flying to London & Dubai on a short notice from Altaf Hussain. There is no accountability.
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Jul 23, 2015 03:55am
Maybe Mr. Zardari fears for his life or freedom. After all, he spent 8 years in prison on trumped up charges! That is why Altaf Hussain is in London. They both understand the system they are dealing with. How many politicians have been killed, exiled or imprisoned in Pakistani power struggles?
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Jul 23, 2015 08:39am
Its all bad for karachi and Sind - PPP needs to be kicked out from the office for wasting public funds, resources and time.
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Jul 23, 2015 09:01am
It seems that politicians from small provinces feel unsafe.
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Jul 23, 2015 09:15am
on whose expense their flying and having meeting in Dubai....
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Jul 23, 2015 09:49am
What an Irony, once a Leading political Party in Pakistan is now the weakest & poorly managed party. They cant even hold their meetings & conferences in Pakistan.
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Jul 23, 2015 09:58am
It is strange that PPP organized a meeting in Dubai and it was attended by Chief Minister Sind and other members of provincial cabinet--PPP and Sind government must give prove to general public that public funds were not used for this event and who paid for their expenses.
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Jul 23, 2015 10:10am
Does PPP not have a place in Pakistan for conference?
Why spend millions taking delegates to Dubai where Z A R D A R I has palaces?
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Jul 23, 2015 10:13am
Why is zardari in dubai for this long time?
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Jul 23, 2015 10:32am
Probably thinking about roti, kapra aur makaan.
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Jul 23, 2015 10:36am
Excellent editorial.
Sindh is suffering in the hands of Sindhis. No one else to blame to except ourselves, use power of vote next time.
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Jul 23, 2015 10:45am
@Ali Shah I think it is still thinking of ways to continue to rule, loot and plunder sindh.
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Jul 23, 2015 10:57am
Sindh Government should also move its offices to Dubai
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Jul 23, 2015 11:02am
You ask the right questions, but surely Zardari does not have a position in any government and can stay wherever he wants. I hear Shahbaz Sharif is in London for an extended visit when the country is having floods. We have to admit that PPP leadership has been eliminated since ZABhutto was hanged. BB, her brothers were killed, Taseer was murdered and his son has been kidnapped. Same is true of Gilani's son. I am not surprised if Zardari thinks 'they' are after him and Bilawal, perhaps wrongly.
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Jul 23, 2015 11:07am
Please PPP do not come to Pakistan we have no need of you corrupts.
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Jul 23, 2015 11:13am
whatever we say does not make any difference because the sindhis will vote them back to power. Hats off to the people of Sindh.
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Jul 23, 2015 11:26am
People in Sindh are facing floods, power shortages, lack of basic necessities, extreme poverty, etc and the jet setting rulers, totally oblivious to their suffering are enjoying themselves having high tea in Dubai. "Ill fares the land where wealth accumulates and men decay"
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Jul 23, 2015 11:50am
And still people vote for these political parties.....how can this change our fate
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Jul 23, 2015 11:55am
I am sindhi. I am silly. I will vote for ppp over and over again.
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Jul 23, 2015 12:00pm
But why don't the Sindh opposition MNAs / MPAs say any thing for waste of tax payers' money on holding meeting in Dubai ? Why all are silent ?
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Jul 23, 2015 12:09pm
Treat all the provinces as equal, no body wants a dominating Punjab. Respect all the sects otherwise people will vote to their sect how so ever good or corrupt the leadership is.
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Jul 23, 2015 12:23pm
If any one or any party want to lead, they should be on the grounds of that locality. Not in Dubai. What a shame. I as a resident of Karachi ( safe or unsafe ) live in Karachi then why the leader are in Dubai.
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Jul 23, 2015 12:46pm
One should have pity on the "Leaders" who are away from the people which they claim to lead. Their ill-gotten wealth will never give them the peace in their hearts and the happiness which comes from one's own motherland and from sincere public service
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Jul 23, 2015 12:56pm
Late Zulfikhar A Bhutto had never dreamed in his life in running the party affairs out of Pakistan. Time changes!
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Jul 23, 2015 12:58pm
I have a simple solution. Why don't we all move to Dubai? At Zardari's expense!
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Jul 23, 2015 01:05pm
"Truly, what is the PPP thinking?" But I wonder what their voters in the rural are thinking?. Again will come to power in the name of Butto. Truly they deserve it.
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Jul 23, 2015 01:08pm
Our leaders are Pakistani by birth, not by heart. Otherwise, they would behave differently - in the interest of common man.
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Jul 23, 2015 01:13pm
I am going to say this again, the PPP are a regional party, where in 10-15 years, even in Sindh they will loose their seats. PPP started to decline as soon as Zardari and his son became the Chairmen. If PPP allowed an open vote to select the party leadership, then things may have been different.
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Jul 23, 2015 01:27pm
@waqas akram Good luck
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Jul 23, 2015 01:45pm
A constituional amendmend should ensure that political office holders in Pakistan do not have dual nationalities, and do not have properties , businesses and sanctuaries outside the country. People like these actually are subservient to the nations where their assets lie and who provide them political sanctuary.
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Jul 23, 2015 01:48pm
PPP has only one thing to think. How an how to loot more & more & then convert into dollars and then transfer to Dubai etc etc.
Where in the world this happens other than the poor Pakistan that its leaders have to call the cabinet meeting in another country, Dubai , London .
PPP is not safe in Sindh not because of terrorists but in the hands of their own misdeeds.
I don't understand how much More money they want to extract from People.
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Jul 23, 2015 02:15pm
Dubai is the place where the PPP leadership can meet, discuss and take instructions directly from the powers which cannot visit Pakistan.
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Jul 23, 2015 02:16pm
@Naseer there are other two smaller provinces than sind in Pakistan, but they are working comfortably and efficiently.
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Jul 23, 2015 02:26pm
The corrupt PPP is in Dubai because they have been allowed to go there.......the question to ask is why have they been allowed ?
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Jul 23, 2015 02:26pm
Altaf is the leader of MQM and is running affairs of the country from UK. So what is wrong if Zardari is doing the same from Dubai? Now every leader of political party will do the same from overseas. Because Pakistan is too hot and humid. And also rangers are very active in the country.
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Jul 23, 2015 02:29pm
Let us be honest with the people who live in Sindh. I am sure very single PPP leader bought a Business Class ticket to Dubai. I would like to find out who paid for it?. The relatively "poor" junior leaders stayed in luxury hotels (the rest of them have luxury homes in Dubai) in Duabi, again, I would like to find out who paid for it. Lastly, how can they aford to have a meeting of Sindh government in Dubai?. Is it just because it is convenient for Bilawal and Asif Zardari?. It really boils my blood. How long are we going to keep filling the pockets of these people?
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Jul 23, 2015 02:32pm
Again DAWN comes up with a sensible editorial.
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Jul 23, 2015 02:36pm
I have one question from the concern, Dubai is province of Pakistan? is this a country? Why official decisions are taking place outside of the country?
Who is going to apprehend the corrupt, politicians, technocrat and bureaucrat? Those who left the country who will bring them back to the court of law? Do Pakistan citizen have any rights?
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Jul 23, 2015 02:45pm
Is it legal to have political meetings in Dubai as per their local law? For sure Pakistan will not accept political parties' meeting of any other country to hold their official meetings on its soil.
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Jul 23, 2015 02:51pm
@The Voice Yes, Thank you so much Dawn for highlighting the Sindh Cabinet meeting in Dubai
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Jul 23, 2015 02:53pm
The Sindh govt has crossed all the limits of corruption. It is going through the worst type bad governance. What to say more.
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Jul 23, 2015 03:02pm
PPP has a provisional political capital.
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Jul 23, 2015 03:08pm
Come on Zardari is residing in his own country....Dubai is the home to PPP. and its Bhutto narratives.... They keep on visiting Pakistan on and off.......
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Jul 23, 2015 03:10pm
They are all corrupt. They only visit Pakistan when they need more cash smuggled out in suitcases and to make the poor and gullible people of Pakistan suffer more. Apart from that their true home countries are UAE, Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom so why is everyone surprised if PPP is meeting in Dubai.
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Jul 23, 2015 03:17pm
"FOR every political misstep or transgression by the military in Sindh, the PPP led by former president Asif Ali Zardari appears willing and able to outdo its uniformed counterparts."
Very well said !
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Jul 23, 2015 03:27pm
The weird face of Pakistan's politics! The things are done far away from Pakistan...Dubai, London etc.....all politicians and their babies are well settled in foreign and they treat Pakistan as a holiday resort......come on Pakistanis...just say a shut up call to these black sheeps..!!!
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Jul 23, 2015 03:40pm
Please leave politics. No seriously. All of you Pakistani politicians should just leave politics. As an added favour please leave Pakistan...permanently. Ameen
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Jul 23, 2015 03:47pm
Also why is MQM in London? These questions must be answered. No other country has its opposition 'masters' based in foreign places.
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Jul 23, 2015 03:48pm
they change there name as Dubai Peoples Party !!!!
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Jul 23, 2015 03:53pm
ppp already history...
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Jul 23, 2015 04:06pm
These so called leaders have turned Pakistan into a banana republic. Their own family run business. Have you ever heard of any country with an iota of self respect doing some nonsense like this? Do you ever see Congress or BJP going e.g. to Dubai or some other place to hold a party meeting?
I blame the people for voting them in over and over again and expecting different result.
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Jul 23, 2015 04:14pm
Leadership is afraid of arrest. No more prison.
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Jul 23, 2015 04:25pm
can you imagine any country in the world that allows it political parties to be based and meet outside of the country on a regular basis?? These people are a joke
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Jul 23, 2015 04:45pm
That is the bad luck of our country.
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Jul 23, 2015 04:45pm
That indicates how patriot our politicians are.
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Jul 23, 2015 04:47pm
Joy ride at public expense, how can CM 7&Co spend government money on PPP meeting at Dubai?
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Jul 23, 2015 04:48pm
Dubai is the capital of Sind and London is the capital of Pakistan
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Jul 23, 2015 04:50pm
"alert military and disinterested civilians"
The above sentence precisely explains the prevalent situation in the country.
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Jul 23, 2015 05:09pm
@Naseer, Remember when politicians from large province took refuge in Saudi Arabia. They are all corrupt irrespective of the province.
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Jul 23, 2015 05:10pm
I think PPP. is scared of ongoing operation in Karachi
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Jul 23, 2015 05:14pm
I am really sick and tired of seeing this stupid ignorant political parties to make PAK decision overseas...if they really think PAK its not safe for them why the hell they are trying to rule the people of PAK we want them out for good...There should be a law where we cant give coverage to these stupid political parties.
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Jul 23, 2015 05:18pm
I have no sympathy for the Sindh people they deserve everything.
It's because of them that the PPP are in government.
All this rubbish about Bhutto's party. He is dead and gone and what is left of PPP is the currupt people
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Jul 23, 2015 05:38pm
Time to make changes in our laws politics from outside the country to be prohibited. Either u choose the luxury of Dubai, UK or be a leader of masses
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Jul 23, 2015 05:43pm
Time to amend our laws .politics from outside the country should be prohibited.
Politicians should choose what they want luxury of Dubai and UK when not in power or leadership of masses.
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Jul 23, 2015 05:53pm
Take out MQM and PPP from the picture and see Pakistan soar.
- A 'Muhajjir' Karachiite
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Jul 23, 2015 05:58pm
Dubai is the Nemesis of Pakistan. Economically, culturally, and now politically. Imagine a Pakistan WITHOUT Dubai................
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Jul 23, 2015 06:29pm
It must seem obvious to most people why the PPP met in Dubai. My take is AA Zardai is scared out of his wits. He has already been to prison for corruption. Secondly, he wants his cohorts to install his son and heir in his place. Don't believe he will be leaving Dubai after this.
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Jul 23, 2015 06:39pm
@Bairooni Haath .... Then it is best for him to remain there the rest of his life.
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Jul 23, 2015 06:47pm
@fahim .... They want to install Prince Bilawal.
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Jul 23, 2015 06:53pm
@vicky ... Punjab is the heart of Pakistan and always will be.
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Jul 23, 2015 06:59pm
@Ibrahim .... Men decay when they cannot stand up against injustice.
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Jul 23, 2015 07:06pm
I would like our loud mouth TV anchors to get a break from their childish rants for once, look straight into the camera and ask these two questions. After that challenge them to come on live TV and answer these and other follow up questions.
- Mr. Zardari (Asif or Bilawal) and CM of Sindh. Why are you holding a senior member PPP meeting in Dubai. Why did you not hold the meeting in Karachi?
- Mr Nawaz and Shahbaz Shareef. What were you doing in Riyadh and London when country is facing imminent floods in South Punjab. What have you done to prepare for these floods as the warning had been given back in June?
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Jul 23, 2015 07:16pm
@Khalid .... PPP = Pakistan Peoples Pocket.
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Jul 23, 2015 07:20pm
@@expat .... If that legislation were passed Pakistan would actually have a democracy. As is it hasn't one. Start voting for Brown people and dump your White skinned Anglophiles.
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Jul 23, 2015 07:30pm
It appears that Sindh is remotely controlled from Dubai (PPP) and London (MQM).
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Jul 23, 2015 07:34pm
NO. You can hang BB's picture anywhere and have a meeting there. :)
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Jul 23, 2015 07:38pm
I am speechless and wondering !!
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Jul 23, 2015 07:38pm
@dawn .... They don't like the United States because there they can't act like royalty.
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Jul 23, 2015 07:43pm
@Mansoor .... Tyrants fall with every foe. Liberty's in every blow... Robert Burns
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Jul 23, 2015 07:44pm
PPP leaders should have met in Karachi not Dubai. How much tax payers money was wasted? The people of Sindh and Pakistan demand answers.
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Jul 23, 2015 07:56pm
@Asim Iqbal or thinking about roti kapra aur ayan
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Jul 23, 2015 08:18pm
@noshin How can u compare Dubai with Larkana or Nawabshah?
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Jul 23, 2015 09:05pm
Why am I not surprised. Yes. The editorial is right about the need for transparency and frugality while dealing with public funds. Neither have been the reining virtues of politics anywhere in the world, in general, and most pointedly in Pakistan. I feel sorry for the feel-good defenders of Pakistan who cannot see the writing on the wall. Almost every politician of any significance (Benazir, Bilawal, Zardari, Sharif, Musharraf, Altaf.....) have spent significant amounts of time away from Pakistan to operate and to merely survive. While who finance them is a good question, it speaks volume of the state of safety and security int he country. No cricket is played in Pakistan.
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Jul 23, 2015 09:06pm
They donot consider Pak their country. They are interested only in looting it and saving the public money in dubai or zürich banks. Thats why they do all of their decisions abroad.
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Jul 23, 2015 09:15pm
PPP in Dubai, MQM in London, PML N in Jeddah, PTI in disaster. Who will lead the nation.
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Jul 23, 2015 10:24pm
Maybe PPP wants to make sure that their discussions remain private?
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Jul 23, 2015 10:58pm
If you look at the photo above, it seems to tell that Madame Bhutto is the only leader of Pakistan and Zardari & Co are the real inheritors, where the place and stature of Qaid-e- Azam is, at the most, of secondary importance.
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Jul 23, 2015 11:34pm
And the sad fact is that most of you will vote for these same so called politicians over and over again. They know they have the 'stupid' vote bank and therefore they can go to their palaces in Dubai and London. If it wasn't for Pakistan Army there would be no Pakistan.
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Jul 23, 2015 11:36pm
I would make it treason for any political leader of Pakistan to operate or make home or office in any foreign country whether in power or not. The goal is that the Pakistanis do not want their leaders to be beholden to any foreign government.
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Jul 23, 2015 11:41pm
@Khan, very true indeed. Sindhis will vote for PPP, Urdu speaking will vote for MQM and majority of Punjabis will vote for PML (N). We can't think beyond ethnicity and bradaris. Some things will never change.
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Jul 24, 2015 01:13am
It shows an arrogance and stupidity of Zardari and group.
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Jul 24, 2015 01:22am
let's hope they all stay there.
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Jul 24, 2015 01:39am
Very well said.
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Jul 24, 2015 02:35am
@Asim Iqbal --Yes, more roti, kapra aur makan for themselves and their posterity.
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Jul 24, 2015 02:51am
the writer is missing one big point
the so called top leaders of PPP are in exile including Zardari sister Faryal Talpur running away from the law
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Jul 24, 2015 03:20am
@Asim Iqbal Yes
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Jul 24, 2015 03:23am
the PPP are the worst corrup.PPP has only one thing to think. How an how to loot more & more & then convert into dollars and then transfer to Dubai. shame on u ppp.
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Jul 24, 2015 04:46am
In the past there were always rumors of our politicians working for foreign hands but now they actually work from foreign lands...
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Jul 24, 2015 04:50am
Few more days on ventilator. Who? PPP, Zerdari, Sindh Government!
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Jul 24, 2015 05:06am
End of GAME, and End of an Era.
The home burned by their own peasants.
I am sure about it. See the next "Election"
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Jul 24, 2015 05:18am
PPP answer is: Frankly my dear I do not give a dam
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Jul 24, 2015 05:29am
The founder members of PPP including Fatima Bhutto & Mumtaz Bhutto should SUE Asif Zardari & his touts in the highest court for RUINING & HIJACKING PPP & all his assets in Pakistan should be forfeited A.S.A.P.
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Jul 24, 2015 05:39am
PPP government based in Dubai is ok but MQM from London is not ok ! Why ?
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Jul 24, 2015 06:06am
@Syed .Maulana Fazul Rehman.
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Jul 24, 2015 08:21am
Pakistan needs a revolt against the staus-quo. This country cannot be held hostage by a handful of corrupt politicians forever, mostly operating from abroad!
Time to wake up! No other country in the world allows this dog and pony show!
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