Speeches by heads of states and governments at national, regional and international fora, is a regular routine in international affairs.
However, very few speeches make a difference, the reason being the half-heartedness of the speakers who deliver such addresses just as a formality or as filler serving only to fill time.
In this context, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan, is an exception to the rule.
On one hand, he doesn’t believe in holding his cards close to his chest whereas, on the other hand, he believes that there is always a room for sensitizing the world notwithstanding the sharp divisions leading to global apathy and notwithstanding the general perception that the global fraternity or for that matter, the United Nations was totally unconcerned about the predicament of millions of downtrodden people inhabiting this planet.
While condemning the republication of blasphemous caricatures, Imran Khan pressed upon the world community to observe an International Day to Combat Islamophobia which has split humanity
Imran Khan’s appeal to the affluent nations as well as G-20 to help the impoverished nations suffering in the aftermath of huge debts, Covid-19 pandemic and underhand money transactions, is indicative of his conviction that it was not impossible to arouse a sense of urgency in the world community. Hence his appeal to the rich countries to support the creation of at least US$500 billion in new Special Drawing Rights for the developing world. This is quite an achievable target for the rich countries which have generated over ten trillion dollars to finance their own response and recovery.It is worth mentioning that the IMF has estimated that the developing countries would need over US$ 2.5 trillion to respond and recover from the current, multifarious crisis.
By raising this genuine demand, Prime Minister Imran Khan has ingeniously taken up the case of the suffering humanity.
In the same breath, he has quite rightly pointed out another malaise, in fact financial malaise that has financially empowered the ruling elite and their cronies in poor countries as well as the wealthy nations at the cost of developing or under-developed countries whose money is transferred abroad though illicit means, thus worsening the economic plight of the poorer nations. This is a known fact and underlies the impoverishment of millions of people living in most parts of the world. For sure, there is no denying the fact that money that could be used towards human development is siphoned off by the corrupt elite through underhand channels although robust anti-Money Laundering and anti-Terrorist Financing regimes are in place. It is because of this failure of such stringent regimes to forestall widespread poverty caused by illicit financial flows that PM Imran Khan has appealed to the UN General Assembly to take the lead in efforts to build a global framework to ensure speedy repatriation of stolen wealth. At this juncture, Khan also highlighted the lack of political will in the rich countries to curb this criminal activity”because they are the beneficiaries”.
On this occasion, Khan made another significant observation which is an eye-opener: “It is important to realize that the aid that flows from rich countries to the developing world is miniscule compared to the massive out-flows by our corrupt elite”.
However, the PM appreciated the G-20’s official debt suspension initiative and the emergency and rapid financing offered by the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and UN Agencies.
The PM, by talking at length on a number of issues besides suggesting practical solutions, seized this opportunity to awaken the world conscience to festering wounds of Palestine and Kashmir. He made out a strong case of Kashmir, condemning the RSS-inspired violence against Muslim minorities of India as well as of Occupied Kashmir or IIOJK (Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir). He presented a sequence-wise preview of inhuman and unconstitutional happenings in Kashmir like killing of Kashmiri youth, abduction of 13,000 of them, ruthless use of pellet guns, one-year-plus military siege of Kashmir, gagging of Kashmiri media and unconstitutional repeal of Articles 370 and 35 A.
What came out to be a very significant part of his speech was his concern for Islamophobia. While condemning the republication of blasphemous caricatures, Imran Khanpressed upon the world community to observe an International Day to Combat Islamophobia which has split humanity.
In all, the speech carried a number of solutions to the ever worsening crises that have engulfed the globe and endangered the lives of millions of human beings dwelling on Earth who are confronted with the perils of illicit financial flows, climate crisis, Islamophobia, Covid-19 pandemic and huge debt burdens.
The writer is a senior journalist and TV analyst