“National interest” is a term which every leader of our country uses to justify his/her deeds or misdeeds. Even the oath administered to public officials includes that “national interest” will be kept in view above the personal interest in the discharge of his/her duties. The oath as given in Pakistan’s constitution is a solemn pledge. It is however observed that hardly anybody who is somebody in the government adheres to his/her oath during the discharge of his/her duties.
One sees nepotism in the appointments of persons to key appointments, kickbacks in the award of contracts, misuse of the government exchequer, misuse of manpower, misuse of transport, misuse of development funds, misuse of aid money, non-implementation of court orders and a host of other wrong things.
Do our leaders, who have taken oath, ever think that all the things mentioned above are being done in the national interest or for personal interest? Either they do not understand what they are pledging at the time of taking oath, or they have no fear of Allah the Almighty in whose presence they take this oath.
MUHAMMAD AZHAR KHWAJA
Lahore
