A good precedent
The investigation of cases by FIA takes long and only when a competent officer is given the charge of the probe – which is rare – is there a possibility of an influential criminal getting his comeuppance. The courts too, delay the adjudication of cases. This explains why it took nearly six years to get characters in the Hajj scam sentenced.
In case examples are to be set, a beginning needs to be made from the elite. This is the first major case where a former federal minister, a former joint secretary of the federal government and a DG Hajj have been awarded punishments ranging from 16 to 40 years in jail. Hopefully, this would not be the last batch of powerful lawbreakers to be punished. It is almost a year since NAB submitted a list of 150 mega corruption cases to Supreme Court. Maintaining files is not enough. Those found to have committed crimes must be punished without delay to instil the fear of law in the ruling elite and the public at large.
Delaying action over scams involving influential people would encourage others in high places to indulge in malpractices. Whatever positive effect the decision on Hajj scam has produced would be lost unless followed by similar sentences.
One of a rare, daring and justified decision by a Pakistani Court in decades. Had this happened some two three decades ago, today we would have been free of corruption.
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