Well done PM Shehbaz Sharif

Dr Lubna Zaheer

May Allah Almighty have mercy on the plight of Kashmiris and Palestinians. For decades, they have been subjected to brutality by India and Israel. The United Nations (UN) has kept a criminal silence on these atrocities. We expect the Muslim Ummah to do something practical for the Palestinian and Kashmiri people. However, the Muslim countries suffering from internal problems are practically unable to take any major steps. It is also a favour that voices are raised in favour of Palestine and Kashmir on behalf of Muslim countries. In this era of communication, these voices are also very important.

Last week, at the United Nations General Assembly, Turkey, Jordan, Qatar, Iran and other countries raised voices in favour of Palestine which agitated India and Israel and they had to respond venomously. In this regard, the stance of Pakistan was the most effective. Critics are also admitting that the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif mentioned the atrocities in Palestine and Kashmir very reasonably in the United Nations General Assembly. It was good to see that he adopted a very emotional approach while mentioning Israeli atrocities on Palestinians. He also shook fists in his style. The case of Palestinians and Kashmiris was very well presented to the world. He raised his voice against the massacre of Palestinians, especially children and women and condemned the Israeli bombing. He stressed that the international community should play a role in stopping this bloodshed and ensuring peace in the region through a two-state solution.

In the same way, he also put the case of the Kashmiri people before the world. He mentioned the atrocities that the Indian army has been inflicting on the Kashmiri people for the last several decades. He convinced the world that the problem of Kashmir should be resolved according to the wishes of the Kashmiris and the resolutions of the Security Council. The Prime Minister mentioned the struggle and sacrifices of the Kashmiris that they have been making for their freedom and right to self-determination for the last several decades. He told the world how 0.9 million Indian soldiers were imposed on Jammu and Kashmir and involved in the kidnapping and massacre of Kashmiri people.

Shehbaz Sharif also put before the world those nefarious actions of India under which India is engaged in the settlement of outsiders in Kashmir to turn the majority of Kashmiri Muslims into a minority. It is being committed to occupying the lands and properties of Kashmiris. It has gone mad to acquire more military power to achieve its nefarious goals. Shehbaz Sharif also condemned India's move to end Kashmir's special status on August 5, 2019, and demanded to withdraw this illegal act. After the speech of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the speech of the Israeli Prime Minister was scheduled. The Pakistani delegation and delegations of other Muslim countries staged a protest walkout at this address.

The Center for Public Opinion Research has released some data regarding the speeches at the United Nations. According to the date, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's speech was viewed the most on the official YouTube channel of the United Nations which was 137,000. It is also being reported that 1.6 million people viewed this address on Al Jazeera's TikTok account. Although some political opponents are bent on disproving these figures. In principle, this issue should not be seen through political lenses. As Pakistanis and Muslims, we should be happy that the condemnation of India and Israel and the mention of atrocities on the oppressed Kashmiris and Palestinians have been seen the most.

However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif deserves praise for fighting the cause of Kashmir and Palestine. On the other hand, he should also be appreciated for improving the economic condition of Pakistan. You should disagree politically with them or criticize their style of politics. However, the fact remains that he has performed. The coalition government headed by him also saved the country from bankruptcy. It was the time when there were open conversations about the country going bankrupt. By being part of this government, the PML-N damaged its political reputation but benefited the country. The common man was certainly burdened by the difficult decisions of the government. But if the country were to go bankrupt, the people would be out of luck.

Even today we are seeing signs of improvement in the economy. The inflation rate has come down from 38 per cent to 6.9 per cent. The interest rate has come down from 22 per cent to 17 per cent. The rupee has achieved some stability, exports have increased, remittances sent by Pakistanis living abroad have increased by a record 44 per cent and foreign investment has increased. A positive trend has also been seen in the stock exchange. Due to these positive economic indicators, international institutions like Fitch and Moody's have upgraded Pakistan's credit rating. In the context of the economic situation, the approval of the $7 billion loan program for Pakistan by the International Financial Institution (IMF) is also good news. The fact is that we need such measures for the betterment of this country and people, they do not need sit-ins, rallies, protests and vandalism.

However, it is not that the people have got relief from inflation. It is just that the economic direction of the country has been somewhat corrected. The truth is that the common man does not understand these figures. He is only interested in bread and sustenance. The primary responsibility of the government is to bring down the prices of the daily necessities of the people, relieve them from the burden of taxes, and save them from electricity, and gas bills. When these steps are taken, then the public will be blessed with a sigh of relief and they will believe that inflation has come down. For this, the government must be allowed to work. In 2017 also, Pakistan had said goodbye to IMF.  Even then, the economy was booming. But the political game that was played took the brunt of the economy. People severely suffered. The country was pushed into the abyss from which it could not come to date. The clan spreading political chaos should consider the plight of this country. The politics of encroachment has not done this country any good in the past and will not do it in the future.

-- The writer is a professor and analyst specializing in media and communication studies. She can be reached at lubna.zaheer91@gmail.com

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