Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Barrister Amjid Malik, Chairman Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), has said seats for overseas Pakistanis should be reserved in both the houses of the parliament in the same way that the seats have been reserved for minorities and women in the Senate and the National Assembly (NA).

He said this in an interview with Daily Times. The OPF Chairman remarked that he had raised his voice at the government level for the appointment of legal experts to extend help to Pakistani expatriates marooned in Saudi Arabia.

“I hope the government will take indispensable steps to address this complex issue”, he observed. The special desks set up at the Pakistan embassies, in other countries in connection with facilities for overseas Pakistanis, are dysfunctional and no facility has been provided to them, he underlined.

There are several overseas Pakistanis undergoing jail terms due to non payment of a nominal amount of penalties but the OPF is sitting heedless on the matter, he regretted.

A welfare cell has been set up in the OPF now which will remain always ready to meet any emergency situation, he disclosed. We will help Overseas Pakistanis within all possible means that are languishing in jails due to the non payment of fine imposed on them on account of petty offences or for want of lawyers’ services.

“I know the corrupt elements are sitting on the seats they are sitting on at the OPF and how they are plundering. Their days are numbered. The OPF would soon be cleansed from black sheep. All out efforts will be launched for ensuring severe punishment to corrupt elements. He went on to say over one million Pakistanis were going abroad every year. Our national economy is gaining strength from day to day in the wake of the inflow of foreign exchange due to these overseas Pakistanis. But the OPF, which had been established for the welfare and uplift of overseas Pakistanis, has failed to complete even a housing society for them during the last 20 years. NAB stricken people are still sitting on the respective seats, he added.

The OPF has been turned into a state agency and no bargaining over plots will be allowed here now, he announced. To a question on the exercise of right to vote he said dual citizenship is a separate process. They are Pakistanis first and they love Pakistan. “In my view overseas Pakistanis should not be deprived of their right to vote”.

To a question he said: “The media is our eye which should point out corruption at the OPF. I promise possible measures will be taken to make OPF corruption free.”