DAWN Editorials - 3rd March 2025
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2025 6:16 pm
Cold world
WESTERN countries do not have a heart for poor, non-white migrants. A recent BBC News report comprising leaked audios exposes the complicity of Greek authorities in the botched rescue attempts for the Adriana, which sank with 700 people onboard in 2023; 350 were Pakistanis and only 82 bodies were retrieved. In one call, Greek rescue officials order the captain to inform the approaching boat that passengers do not want to arrive in Greece. In another, they ask the “big red ship” captain to “write it in your logbook” that the migrants want to reach Italy. Their foul play was confirmed by a Pakistani survivor. This news coincided with the arrival of the remains of six Pakistanis lost in the boat tragedy off the Libyan coast; of the 63 nationals, 16 perished and, Pakistani authorities say, 37 survivors have been tracked but 10 are missing.
Pakistan does little for a populace wracked by deepening poverty and violence. Recently, the law minister stated that 1,638 human traffickers had been arrested and 458 were convicted. While a clampdown is desperately needed, what is the government’s blueprint for unemployment, pay gap, climate displacement, and other pressures that compel people to risk their lives for a better future? India and Bangladesh have accelerated development at home by providing skill training to their youth for employment. We, sadly, are a long way from ensuring peace and economic progress so that our citizens can willingly shun the dangers of flight. The fact that hundreds of Pakistanis who took illegal routes to Europe have perished is an international disgrace. The toll of the persistent internal and external cruelty perpetrated on our people should sear our collective conscience. As the truth behind Adriana and Lucky Star exposes Fortress Europe’s racism and xenophobia, Western nations must spare a thought for their own role in exacerbating the same conditions. That is the white man’s true burden.
Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2025
Failing women
OUR justice system has truly failed to protect women, a recent SSDO report has revealed. With conviction rates hovering at an appalling 0.5pc for honour killings and rape, 0.1pc for kidnapping, and a mere 1.3pc for domestic violence, we have a real crisis of accountability on our hands. Each day in Pakistan in 2024 brought with it an average of 67 kidnappings, 19 rapes, six domestic violence cases and two honour killings. And these are the instances that were reported. Social stigma and distrust in the justice system ensure that only a fraction of incidents in the country is brought to the fore. From the registration of cases to conviction, the path is riddled with obstacles. Statistics show that in Punjab, out of 4,641 rape cases, only 20 resulted in convictions. Shockingly, Sindh and Balochistan recorded zero rape convictions.
So, what has led to such abysmal conditions when it comes to gender-based violence in our country? For one, patriarchal norms that have long permeated law-enforcement and judicial bodies lead to an environment where victims are often not believed or are pressured to withdraw their cases. Out-of-court settlements have sadly become the norm, often sanctioned by informal jirgas and panchayats. Investigations, if they ever occur, are routinely mishandled with inadequate evidence collection and victim intimidation. Procedural delays see cases stretch on for years without resolution. Police departments lack specialised GBV units, which has resulted in inconsistent handling of cases, allowing the perpetrators to evade justice. Reforms are sorely needed if we are to address these issues. Firstly, female police officers must be hired on priority. Female officers bring essential perspective and sensitivity to GBV cases and create a more comfortable environment for survivors to report crimes. Currently, women represent less than 2pc of our police force — a figure that must increase dramatically if we hope to build trust with victims. In addition, fast-track courts that are dedicated to hearing GBV cases must be established to overcome judicial delays. Legal aid for survivors must be guaranteed and expanded and out-of-court settlements in cases of sexual and domestic violence must be outlawed. For their part, law-enforcement agencies must improve forensic evidence collection and digitally track cases to prevent bureaucratic delays. Without decisive action, countless women will continue to suffer violence, with little hope of seeing their perpetrators brought to book.
Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2025
Aid dependency
WITH Donald Trump and Elon Musk effectively dismantling the US Agency for International Development, and no guarantee that America’s humanitarian arm will emerge intact after the ongoing ‘restructuring’, developing states, including the CSOs working in these countries, must come up with contingency plans. The changes USAID is undergoing will have a global impact, with the developing world — including Pakistan — particularly affected.
Although the aid agency has been known to participate in dubious overseas missions, for example regime change, its funds were helping crucial sectors in developing states, such as health, education and climate. It disbursed billions of dollars in assistance, helping fund projects to save lives, prevent disease and promote educational activities, among other initiatives. Now, for the most part, all of this will come to an end. Media reports say that some 39 projects in Pakistan, costing hundreds of millions of dollars, have been axed. It is also true that thousands of workers associated with USAID in America, as well as those working in the development sector worldwide, are now jobless due to the purge.
Two important points need to be made with regard to foreign aid. Firstly, Western states, particularly the US, have a duty to support humanitarian endeavours, specifically in states they have bombed and invaded. Hence, it is morally unacceptable that the US spent billions on destroying states like Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, but now feels the need to tighten its purse strings where the reconstruction of these countries is concerned.
Yet it is also true that the ‘dependency syndrome’ stemming from an addiction to foreign aid that ails many developing states, Pakistan included, plays a key role in allowing the governments of these countries to shirk their duties in the social sector. It is laudable when rich states offer a helping hand, but it is the primary responsibility of the governments of developing nations to provide their citizens with health, education, security, etc. While the USAID closure has come as a jolt, it might offer an opportunity to the developing world to take responsibility for the well-being of its own people.
The fact is that governments, including ours, need to increase funding in critical areas such as healthcare that have been affected by the USAID shake-up. Elsewhere, civil society groups need to adapt their policies accordingly and work to secure funding from other sources to ensure that important programmes continue. These include projects working for human rights, including marginalised minorities. It is no use shedding tears over the lost billions that will no more be making their way from Washington to developing countries. The time has come to take responsibility for our own development.
Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2025
WESTERN countries do not have a heart for poor, non-white migrants. A recent BBC News report comprising leaked audios exposes the complicity of Greek authorities in the botched rescue attempts for the Adriana, which sank with 700 people onboard in 2023; 350 were Pakistanis and only 82 bodies were retrieved. In one call, Greek rescue officials order the captain to inform the approaching boat that passengers do not want to arrive in Greece. In another, they ask the “big red ship” captain to “write it in your logbook” that the migrants want to reach Italy. Their foul play was confirmed by a Pakistani survivor. This news coincided with the arrival of the remains of six Pakistanis lost in the boat tragedy off the Libyan coast; of the 63 nationals, 16 perished and, Pakistani authorities say, 37 survivors have been tracked but 10 are missing.
Pakistan does little for a populace wracked by deepening poverty and violence. Recently, the law minister stated that 1,638 human traffickers had been arrested and 458 were convicted. While a clampdown is desperately needed, what is the government’s blueprint for unemployment, pay gap, climate displacement, and other pressures that compel people to risk their lives for a better future? India and Bangladesh have accelerated development at home by providing skill training to their youth for employment. We, sadly, are a long way from ensuring peace and economic progress so that our citizens can willingly shun the dangers of flight. The fact that hundreds of Pakistanis who took illegal routes to Europe have perished is an international disgrace. The toll of the persistent internal and external cruelty perpetrated on our people should sear our collective conscience. As the truth behind Adriana and Lucky Star exposes Fortress Europe’s racism and xenophobia, Western nations must spare a thought for their own role in exacerbating the same conditions. That is the white man’s true burden.
Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2025
Failing women
OUR justice system has truly failed to protect women, a recent SSDO report has revealed. With conviction rates hovering at an appalling 0.5pc for honour killings and rape, 0.1pc for kidnapping, and a mere 1.3pc for domestic violence, we have a real crisis of accountability on our hands. Each day in Pakistan in 2024 brought with it an average of 67 kidnappings, 19 rapes, six domestic violence cases and two honour killings. And these are the instances that were reported. Social stigma and distrust in the justice system ensure that only a fraction of incidents in the country is brought to the fore. From the registration of cases to conviction, the path is riddled with obstacles. Statistics show that in Punjab, out of 4,641 rape cases, only 20 resulted in convictions. Shockingly, Sindh and Balochistan recorded zero rape convictions.
So, what has led to such abysmal conditions when it comes to gender-based violence in our country? For one, patriarchal norms that have long permeated law-enforcement and judicial bodies lead to an environment where victims are often not believed or are pressured to withdraw their cases. Out-of-court settlements have sadly become the norm, often sanctioned by informal jirgas and panchayats. Investigations, if they ever occur, are routinely mishandled with inadequate evidence collection and victim intimidation. Procedural delays see cases stretch on for years without resolution. Police departments lack specialised GBV units, which has resulted in inconsistent handling of cases, allowing the perpetrators to evade justice. Reforms are sorely needed if we are to address these issues. Firstly, female police officers must be hired on priority. Female officers bring essential perspective and sensitivity to GBV cases and create a more comfortable environment for survivors to report crimes. Currently, women represent less than 2pc of our police force — a figure that must increase dramatically if we hope to build trust with victims. In addition, fast-track courts that are dedicated to hearing GBV cases must be established to overcome judicial delays. Legal aid for survivors must be guaranteed and expanded and out-of-court settlements in cases of sexual and domestic violence must be outlawed. For their part, law-enforcement agencies must improve forensic evidence collection and digitally track cases to prevent bureaucratic delays. Without decisive action, countless women will continue to suffer violence, with little hope of seeing their perpetrators brought to book.
Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2025
Aid dependency
WITH Donald Trump and Elon Musk effectively dismantling the US Agency for International Development, and no guarantee that America’s humanitarian arm will emerge intact after the ongoing ‘restructuring’, developing states, including the CSOs working in these countries, must come up with contingency plans. The changes USAID is undergoing will have a global impact, with the developing world — including Pakistan — particularly affected.
Although the aid agency has been known to participate in dubious overseas missions, for example regime change, its funds were helping crucial sectors in developing states, such as health, education and climate. It disbursed billions of dollars in assistance, helping fund projects to save lives, prevent disease and promote educational activities, among other initiatives. Now, for the most part, all of this will come to an end. Media reports say that some 39 projects in Pakistan, costing hundreds of millions of dollars, have been axed. It is also true that thousands of workers associated with USAID in America, as well as those working in the development sector worldwide, are now jobless due to the purge.
Two important points need to be made with regard to foreign aid. Firstly, Western states, particularly the US, have a duty to support humanitarian endeavours, specifically in states they have bombed and invaded. Hence, it is morally unacceptable that the US spent billions on destroying states like Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, but now feels the need to tighten its purse strings where the reconstruction of these countries is concerned.
Yet it is also true that the ‘dependency syndrome’ stemming from an addiction to foreign aid that ails many developing states, Pakistan included, plays a key role in allowing the governments of these countries to shirk their duties in the social sector. It is laudable when rich states offer a helping hand, but it is the primary responsibility of the governments of developing nations to provide their citizens with health, education, security, etc. While the USAID closure has come as a jolt, it might offer an opportunity to the developing world to take responsibility for the well-being of its own people.
The fact is that governments, including ours, need to increase funding in critical areas such as healthcare that have been affected by the USAID shake-up. Elsewhere, civil society groups need to adapt their policies accordingly and work to secure funding from other sources to ensure that important programmes continue. These include projects working for human rights, including marginalised minorities. It is no use shedding tears over the lost billions that will no more be making their way from Washington to developing countries. The time has come to take responsibility for our own development.
Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2025