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Is Congress Bought by Pakistan? Pakistan complains that India is outbidding it We all know that lobbyists ply the halls of Congress attempting to influence members on all kinds of issues. But these lobbyists are usually thought to represent various US interests - not foreign governments. Now Pakistan is complaining that the 75 members of Congress it claims to have, in their words, "hired" have not delivered. The Pak Tribune says Pakistan has been outflanked by India, which has "hired" 100-members of Congress. The Pakistan Caucus at the Capitol Hill was inaugurated by President General Pervez Musharraf in September 2004. Its co-chairs are Texas Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee and Indiana Republican Dan Burton. One Shafiqur Rehman Siddiqui, director of the Pakistani American Liaison Center, (PALC), had assisted ambassador Karamat in creating and building the Congressional Pakistan Caucus. The Pakistani lobbyists must be very skilled to get Lee and Burton to agree on anything. The Pakistanis are complaining, like a lot of Americans, that they are not getting their money's worth - and complaining that the "hired" representatives are also taking money from the other side - India. The Pulse report stated: "The Pakistan embassy claims to have secured the support of 75 Congressmen, but whenever any meeting is called, only a handful of members of Congress are present-mostly, Black Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee would be present. Then, many of the Congressmen listed in the Pakistani Caucus are also part of the Indian Caucus. This is scandalous. ... A follow-up insight in the affairs of the Pakistan Caucus by this magazine also reveals that Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who is the co-chair of the Pakistan Caucus, is simultaneously also a member of the Indian Caucus. Therefore, the question that strikes our minds is how could we expect from a person who is a member of both the Caucuses to do full justice with either. After all, if the Indians at all are paying half a million US dollars more than us to their respective lobbyists, would it not make sense if we presume that the co-chair of our Caucus could potentially toe the Indian line just because they are offering her more than us? That's a very good question - one asked by many Americans on many issues. The trouble with this is that almost everyone will believe it - and not be surprised.. What does that say about our government that members of Congress are held in such low esteem? |
