The Pakistani diaspora in the West should adopt a democratic approach to highlight their issues and get their problems resolved besides trying to assimilate and integrate with local societies without compromising their religious and cultural identities, said the European legislators of Pakistani origin during a dialogue on the ‘Pakistani Diaspora in the West: Part of the solution or part of the problem’ held at a local hotel here Tuesday.

The legislators went on to lament that the Pakistani diaspora is more a part of the problem than being a part of the solution in having better relations between the Muslim world and the West owing to their failure in assimilating and integrating with host societies.

The dialogue was arranged by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) with assistance from the Global Opportunities Fund, Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British government.

Baroness Kishwar Falkner of Margravine, who is a member of the British House of Lords, in her opening statement said that Pakistanis living abroad, especially in the European countries had the potential to be the part of solution in forming good relations between the West and the Muslim world.

“Unfortunately, currently it is more part of the problem as they don’t try to assimilate and integrate with local societies” she noted, adding that even integration of second and third-generation of Pakistani diaspora was painfully slow even in countries like England.

According to her, Muslims in the Britain are living parallel lives and suggested that immigrants whose second and third generations were now the citizens of the European states should adopt democratic ways and means to assert their point of view instead of resorting to violence.

Baroness Falkner suggested that Pakistani diaspora should learn lessons from the Israeli diaspora and how they influence the policies of the country where they are settled.

Another European legislator of Pakistani origin, Khalid Mahmood who is the member of Storting, the Norwegian Parliament, said equal opportunities are provided to Pakistani or Muslim Diaspora in Norway and other Scandinavian countries. He said the second and third-generation of Pakistanis settled in Norway were better Muslims than their parents. Khalid Mahmood, however, deplored that the Pakistani diplomatic missions don’t cooperate as per the expectations of Pakistanis and at the same time, these Pakistanis also don’t get any positive feedback or support from their motherland.

Renowned journalist Ghazi Salahuddin criticised the Pakistanis living abroad for their self-assumed role of defenders and spokespersons of Islam. According to him, the Pakistani diaspora’s roots were in Pakistan and they were more concerned about events taking place in their home country rather than where they live.

The former Federal Interior Minister Lt. Gen. (rtd) Moinuddin Haider said that although the West’s attitude towards Muslims was not exemplary, still the Pakistanis living abroad should also look into their own problems.

He urged the Pakistani diaspora to respect local laws and find honourable ways to raise their issues instead of resorting to agitation.

International Relations expert Dr Huma Baqai was of the opinion that revival of political Islam was underway in the world and instead of being apologetic. Muslims especially Pakistanis should reject the negative propaganda against them.

Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui of the Jamat-e-Islami was of the opinion that the Pakistani diaspora needs unity and strength if it wants to play its due role in presenting Islam’s true image and accused the West of double standards. He lamented that Muslims living abroad were at two extremes as on one end, there were people who wanted to “melt in the Western pot” while on the other end, there were people who were religious zealots, adding that both of these groups were wrong.

Sindh information Minister Shazia Marri also spoke and highlighted the salient features of foreign policy of present government and the approach of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) towards the West. The debate was then opened for the participants following the speeches of the panellists.