History speaks louder than words

The architects of corruption and their demeaning postures

The menace of corruption is deeply ingrained in the political foundations of the country and it may be difficult to trace its origins to any one incident or person. But the phenomenal increase in its exercise goes back to the emergence of a few families in the realm of national politics. The recent judgement of the Supreme Court (SC) in the matter of Asghar Khan’s petition against the doling out of state funds to impact the outcome of national elections sheds considerable light on the character of some of these stalwarts who are constantly perched atop the moral pedestal pontificating to other members of their community and the people at large.

Deserving particular mention in this domain is the house of the Sharifs whose origin, conduct and tactics have perfected the art of corruption and given it a meaning and substance that were relatively unknown before they entered the arena. The Sharif family came to limelight courtesy the patronage of that demonic despot Zia ul Haq. It is to his self-serving policies that we owe the humiliating plunge that the country has taken over the last thirty-five years. To his policies we owe the gun and the drug culture. To his self-righteous proclivities we owe the despicable indoctrinations in hate that the ‘madrassah’ syndrome has so extensively cultivated and to a streak of sadism ingrained in his person we owe the most draconian phase of dictatorship witnessed in recent times replete with inhuman floggings and executions.

It is in his lap that we see the birth of the Sharifs and their subsequent nurturing to become political kingpins. Nawaz Sharif’s advent into power as the finance minister in Punjab heralded the unprecedented expansion of their business empire which rested on loans secured that, in most cases, ran into prolonged litigations. The tradition of using public office and state riches mercilessly for personal advancement are all traceable to the political culture that the Sharifs imbibed from the dictator.

The fact that Nawaz Sharif allegedly sold his soul for as little as Rs. 3.5 million to propel his political drive against the opposing coalition is also symptomatic of the family’s total addiction to power and its resolve to secure it at whatever price or compromise. Their penchant for using money for the advancement of political ambitions has been a well-known ‘secret’. While legal proceedings may or may not be initiated, there is little by way of moral ground remaining for such people to stay in politics.

The advent and expansion of the demon of corruption has defiled politics beyond recognition which is now perceived as the art of exploiting the state resources to fill personal coffers. It is in the vile machinations employed by these self-anointed ‘democrats’ that we can trace the demise of the noble concept of politics to which is no longer seen as service to the people. It is now acknowledged as a detestable occupation meriting ignominy for its practitioners.

There are others who allegedly sold their souls, too, for meagre sums. They included Syeda Abida Hussain, Zafaraullah Jamali, Mohammad Khan Junejo, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Hasil Bizenjo, Pir Pagara, Jamaat-e-Islami and some others. The SC has judged that the gratifications paid have to be recovered with profit.

Another groundbreaking aspect of the judgement deals with the role that the President plays in a parliamentary system: “A President of Pakistan, in the Parliamentary system of government, being head of the State, represents the unity of the Republic under Article 41 of the Constitution. And, as per the oath of his office, in all circumstances, he will do right to all manner of people according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill will. Thus, holder of the office of the President of Pakistan violates the Constitution if he fails to treat all manner of people equally and without favouring any set according to law and, as such, creates/provides an occasion which may lead to an action against him under the Constitution and the law”. Read with the part of the judgement dealing with the immediate abolition of the reported election or political cells that may exist in the ISI and the presidency, the adjudication constitutes a serious challenge for the President who, alongside being the head of the State, is also the co-chairperson of the PPP.

The judgment is unambiguous and expects of the President to leave one of the two charges that he commands: either the office of the Head of the State, or that of the co-chairperson of his political party. The fact that the co-chairperson of a political party was actually allowed to be elected as the President of the country also reflects the inherent disdain with which the political leaders across the divide treat the constitution. It is effectively construed as a handmaiden that will be used and abused as may please their disposition.

If one measures the bluntness of the judgement against the corrupt predilections of various political leaderships, one wonders as to what the possible outcome would be. One has also seen the philosophy of confrontation that the PPP leadership has so far adopted to deal with adverse judgements of the SC. In the process, it has had to sacrifice one of its prime ministers also. It is another matter that the move may have been part of the grand strategy to clip the wings of an incumbent who had begun to transgress the parameters of political subservience to the ‘leader’. So, he was encouraged to script his own demise and fade away to his home town via the back yards of the presidency.

All eyes are now set on the government which is to initiate prosecution proceedings against the army generals on the one hand and the politicians on the other. What will be the possible reaction from the army with regard to initiating proceedings against a former Chief and a former DG ISI? Will the government move against its political adversaries, or will it use this unexpected position of strength to strike compromises with them on, let’s say, the new accountability bill and other such perverse formulations? One will not have to wait long to see how things unfold.

The writer is a political analyst. He can be contacted at: [email protected]