Friday, February 1, 2013

How to Minimise Corruption in Pakistan - A Proposal

n Pakistan, everybody knows that we are no less behind any nation in corruption. Moreover, we are also no less behind in raising hue and cry against corruption. But, the problem is that corruption can neither be curbed with hollow slogans nor by declaration of assets by the politicians and government employees. 

Times of India reported on 19 November, 2011 (Link:- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Black-money-India-to-sign-agreements-with-42-more-nations/articleshow/10793795.cms) that after signing agreements with 48 countries, India will shortly ink pacts with 42 more nations to bring back black money stashed abroad, Union minister of state for parliamentary affairs Harish Rawat said. Once these agreements are signed, India will be in a position to bring back black money stashed in different banks abroad, he told reporters here.

Corruption can only be minimised by deterrent legislation; which ensures that crime of corruption will not pay, neither in the short nor in the long term. 

And effective judicial verdicts, like the one announced today by the Delhi court in which former Indian 86 years old telecom minister Sukhram, has been sentenced for five years jail, for taking Rs 3 lakhs as bribe to give a lucrative contract to a private firm in 1996. He pleaded for leniency in court on grounds of his old age while the CBI called him a "habitual offender" and sought maximum punishment for him. The 86-year-old former minister was held guilty for misusing his official position during his tenure as telecom minister in P V Narasimha Rao's cabinet in giving a contract worth Rs 30 crore to a private company, Haryana Telecom Limited (HTL), to supply 3.5 Lakh Conductor Kilometers (LCKM) of Polythene Insulated Jelly Filled (PIJF) cables to the telecom department.

We in Pakistan, must realise that our main problem is not the existence of corruption. It is rather, the fertile culture which helps breed "corruption pays" as a most lucrative and profitable activity in Pakistan. 

Till such time we attack the very roots of this cancerous culture of corruption in Pakistan, no positive improvement should be expected in any sphere of life.

And we must be aware of the fact that corruption is a bigger menace than terrorism.

Since we have all the required institutions and no dearth of honest and honourable people, what is required is:

1:- Developing a system to post these DYNAMIC people to be the heads of NAB, FIA and Anti-Corruption departments of provincial governments.

2:- Also, these departments must be independent and accountable to higher judiciary only.

3:- Legislation and International Agreements with various countries – on the lines India has done – to bring back the money kept illegally outside Pakistan.

Towards the achievement of this goal, a committee is proposed to be constituted, consisting of Chief Justice of Supreme Court, all Chief Justices of High Courts and leader of the opposition of National and all provincial assemblies, for appointing on a tenure post, all heads and key personnel of NAB, FIA and Provincial anti-Corruption departments. 

Moreover, NO person in the country from civil, military, judiciary and any other department should have the immunity from interrogation on corruption matters before these departments.

It is earnestly hoped that the above said mechanism if put in place, will strike such a fear in the hearts of all and sundry, that no one will dare even think of doing corruption in Pakistan.

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