The national dilemma

Since everyone is a partner in crime, hardly anyone ever gets convicted

It is not every day that our mild mannered Prime Minister loses his cool. He is also not famous for wasting his time to appear in public or face the parliament unless driven by a calculated specific motive to pursue. So, when he travelled to Bahawalpur last month to address a gathering of the local body representatives, something definitely was cooking.

For some time, the media had been rife with stories of the exploits of National Accountability Bureau. Practically everybody, who is anybody, seemed to be under its radar with accusations of financial misappropriation and misuse of authority. Tales were in circulation of files opened against politicians, businessmen, bureaucrats and everyone else (excepting armed forces) under the sun. Old files lying with no action for decades were reportedly being dusted and resurrected and prominent figures were being shortlisted to be hauled in for interrogation and possible arrests.

Politicians are used to such games of cat and mouse and consider it an integral component of their chosen profession. Further, going to jail has never really hurt any politician — living in ‘A’ class with ‘mushqatis’ to serve them, food brought from home and amenities arranged by old beneficiaries or by those with future expectations. If anything, it enhances their status as a leader of substance and adds to their credentials. It is the easy living businessmen and government servants, who have no stomach for such transgressions and may consider imprisonment or even the initiation of an enquiry as a disgrace to their families and good names (in this day and age).

As the media relished in releasing the names on a variety of (whether fictional or real) lists prepared by NAB for imminent action, these faint-hearted were recoiling in anguish. Government officers became wary of writing a note or taking a decision and started setting files aside without comment or action. Industry people already disgruntled with lack of energy, disorder and declining profit margins, started wondering if an environment of fear and apprehension is conducive to further investments. Many started contemplating to relocate their production houses and whatever was left of their already shrinking businesses to elsewhere.

Initially, the government took it in its stride. The crunch came with the NAB scope of enquiries being expanded to the China-Pakistan Economic corridor (CPEC), LNG contract with the State of Qatar, energy and road projects with China and the Orange Line in Lahore. These are the projects behind which the PML-N has placed all its support as a precursor to securing a majority and winning a second term in the general elections scheduled for 2018. Any delay or suspension of these schemes could jeopardise its entire strategy of re-election.

Other regulatory bodies like OGRA, PEPRA and NEPRA also started taking their autonomy too seriously and not always concurred with or obliged the administration. Their exercise of independence sometimes conflicted with the desire of the rulers to get on with the job, fix tariffs of their choice, negotiate and award contracts without someone breathing down their necks. Removing objections and following set procedures consume time.

Admittedly, terrorism and poor governance have pushed our country far behind during the last few years, while other regional nations have sustained their rate of economic progress. In order to catch up and attract domestic and foreign investment, fast track implementation of infrastructural and development projects is a prime requisite. The government would like to minimise red tape to achieve its targets at record speeds.

Regulatory bodies function to ensure transparency and adherence to legal parameters. If it puts roadblocks in circumvention of procedures, so be it. NAB has the mandate to monitor elements of financial corruption. If ministers and executives are suspects, they must be investigated. Thus more often than not, government functionaries and these agencies find themselves as adversaries. Yet they have to find ways to co-exist as two wheels of the same cart.

The carefully planned outburst in Bahawalpur emanating from this background has achieved its objective. It initiated the desired media debates to gauge public opinion. In addition, the chief executive effectively transmitted, in a single stroke, his message to all concerned. They must work together to strike a pragmatic balance.

It is a stark reality that gratification in one form or the other has gradually assumed a way of life in our country. Ill gotten gains were earlier regarded with disdain and intellectual abhorrence in society. Not so, any longer. Financial corruption has been encouraged and promoted over the years both under army and democratic rules. The system has cultivated political patronage and partnership. It has also gained a certain grudging social acceptability and even an ironic kind of envy for the bold and the mighty corrupt rich.

The levels of commissions and favours manoeuvered by the political elite have escalated to staggering figures. Files do not move unless government officials or influence peddling politicians are greased with cuts or bribes. The rates are settled and transactions made unabashedly in public view without any qualms. Politicians with modest assets are known to have amassed huge fortunes within a short stint in positions of power. These are no secrets. Evidence is available on the ground and propagated on the media day in and day out. Since everyone is a partner in crime, hardly anyone ever gets convicted for want of prosecutable evidence or sustainable investigation.

Various anti-corruption bodies established to curb corruption by successive regimes have all grown to become parts of the problem. Plea bargaining legitimised by the national accountability act has allowed looters to get away by sharing a fraction of their spoils with NAB. None of the high profile cases, clear as the blue sky above, have reached conviction due to deliberate weak prosecution and an antiquated justice system. Corruption is being rewarded and honesty has become a sacrifice.

The Sharif brothers claim they take governance as ‘ibadat’, their hands are clean and they want to get on with the job unobstructed. The simultaneous challenge thrown to all the regulatory bodies exuded an unprecedented confidence by the prime minister. After all, he has been able to effectively neutralise the political opposition and has developed a working relationship with the COAS. His party has the mandate to carry out the work as it deems fit to be in the interest of the nation.

It is the poor and hapless common folk, who have no respite from the ever demanding government officials in every phase of their lives. They have no choice but to surrender to their demands. The prime minister has the power and resources to overcome the hurdles in his way. Some day, he should descend to the level of the ordinary person in the street and also raise his voice to rid them from the clutches of the extortionists in government departments for ever extracting their pound of flesh. Is it not his job to eradicate the low level bribery that brings misery to the unconnected average citizen? Is the common man’s peace of mind not his responsibility?