Dear Prime Minister, it is beyond the ‘what’ and ‘why’

“Tou kya hua agar mulk chorh ke jaa rahay hein?” was the retort from Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister, Anwarul Haq Kakar, in response to a question highlighting that many Pakistanis would jump at the first chance to leave Pakistan, primarily due to economic reasons.

As the nation rallies against soaring electricity prices, with some even resorting to assaulting linemen and meter readers out of sheer desperation, especially when the dollar has hit triple century against the rupee and petrol prices have skyrocketed, the question isn’t about the “what”. Nor is it about the “why”. Inflation, scant opportunities, a deteriorating security landscape, an unjust tax system, a lack of business-friendly environments, rising intolerance, and political divides are some of the established reasons we all know of.

The real question the esteemed Prime Minister should be asking is “how?”

In what circumstances are these Pakistanis departing? The country is grappling with a horrible human trafficking issue – perhaps one of the worst in the world, which only becomes evident when a boat capsizes in Greece or a European border guard opens fire randomly. The magnitude of this crisis hits home when you encounter families mourning the loss of numerous members, with no bodies to bury.

Security agencies are amidst an investigation revealing the reach of these traffickers in Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Libya, Europe, and the UK. They brazenly advertise their “services” on platforms like TikTok, luring those desperate for a new start. From the peaks of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the valleys of Kashmir, and from the plains of Punjab to Balochistan’s oases, there are countless stories of individuals who’ve endured months of treacherous journeys, facing the elements, wild animals, ruthless traffickers, and stringent border checks – some even giving birth en route.

I spoke to a father from the tribal regions whose son had been deported from the Middle East and then Turkey. On his third attempt, after borrowing more money and leaving his family in the dark, the father received harrowing videos from Libya of his son, bound and brutally beaten. The captors demanded not only the “local agent’s fee” be waived but also an equivalent sum for another agent. They paid.

Despite the horrors, the son chose not to return and set sail for the west, once more from Libya. Such are the dire circumstances they’re fleeing from in Pakistan. Who would willingly abandon a land of “twelve seasons”, the solace of home, the embrace of family, and the camaraderie of friends? What alternative are we offering?

You are active on Twitter, Mr Prime Minister. Do you notice the daily “trends”? And if so, do they depict a thriving society? Have you ever pondered why, instead of films, dramas, and sports, news dominates our entertainment? News that rarely results in substantial policies or decisions other than taking a loan before or after an election. Loans repaid with even more loans. 

You recently visited Jaranwala, Mr Prime Minister. Did you not find the answer to your own “what’s the fuss” there? I’m curious about the thought process of the audience when you posed that question, and their reactions. But after seeing your tweet defending your stance, I could only think of one answer.

Tou yeh ho gaya, dear Prime Minister, that we have lost hope. Those escaping have lost faith in a system that should’ve offered them the exact opposite. Whether anything can reignite the trust of the many eyeing greener pastures remains a lingering question for many of us, especially when we hear such detached remarks from those in power.

“Qu’ils mangent de la brioche”