These elected representatives in assemblies are protecting their own business interests and the interests of industrialist, traders, feudal lords and others within the khaki and civil bureaucracy.
These industrialist owners of sugars mills, cement plants, steel mills and bankers are making cartels to make huge profits at the cost of the people’s misery, under the very patronage of the political representation of the people. Instead of protecting the interest of the ordinary people, the bureaucracy is also hands-in-gloves with politicians to exploit the masses. It is ironic that during democratic rule in Pakistan, there is increase in the poverty and number of children out of school and there is rampant corruption.
According to press reports, India being the largest democracy in the world is rallying against corruption to pass a bill to tackle corruption in high places.
The bill (citizen ombudsman bill) is drawn up by prominent civil society activists seeking the appointment of an independent body to investigate corruption cases, complete investigation within a year and the trial in the case being completed in the next year.
On the contrary, in Pakistani democracy, the government is not even allowing Transparency International to research and prepare the report on corruption for the year 2010 to 2011.
The main opposition party, the PML(N), is keen on making a grand alliance to topple the government on charges of corruption, instead of passing the law of accountability in the parliament.
It wants to destabilise the country which is already facing acute uncertainty. Both the government and the opposition need to get their act together as the public is running out of patience.
S T HUSSAIN
Lahore
