- PM Khan started promisingly enough
“The fact was that one was left empty-handed. There was no system to soothe the unfairness of things; justice was without scope; it might snag the stealer of chickens, but great evasive crimes would have to be dismissed because, if identified and netted, they would bring down the entire structure of so-called civilisation.” – Kiran Desai (The Inheritance of Loss)
Seven months on, and the newly-elected government of Prime Minister Imran Khan seems to be wearing off some of it shine. Media and print journalists both advocated cautious optimism and patience towards the government. PM Khan started promisingly enough, a new era of accountability, strengthening of institutions, bringing forth fresh, dynamic, young leadership starting from Punjab. Such were the claims that would feature at the center of their ambitious 100 days framework. Like most promises, in the hands of politicians, these were not to last for long. From the appointment of Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdaar to the promise of depoliticisation of bureaucracy, retraction of Atif Mian’s appointment in the Economic Advisory Council and most recently, the handling of the Sahiwal shooting incident, PM Khan’s government has been quick to contradict itself. Its handling of various issues throughout its short 7-month stint in government has been tumultuous, to say the least.
The election and subsequent appointment of former chief minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif as Chairman of Public Accounts Committee, who stood unopposed, is an issue that is now coming to the fore. The Public Accounts Committee stands as one of the key parliamentary bodies that studies public audits and invites ministers, secretaries and other ministry officials to account for the use (or in, what is often our case, misuse) of funds and resources. “The committee may examine the expenditures, administration, delegated legislation, public petitions and policies of the Ministry concerned and its associated public bodies and may forward its report of findings and recommendations to the Ministry and the Ministry shall submits its reply to the Committee [NA Rule 201 (4)]”.
If utilised in accordance with the rules that it is governed by, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) can be a barricade in the face of misappropriation of funds. Unfortunately, like most other such bodies, this one has been either abused or sidelined in order to facilitate the corrupt practices of successive governments. While the appointment of Sharif was in keeping with tradition of aiming to ensure transparency by having the chairman of the PAC be a member of the opposition party, it is laughable that the head of the parliamentary watch dog is an individual who had been arrested by NAB in relation with the Ashiana-i-Iqbal Housing Scheme scandal and the subject of various other investigations. Fast forward to February 2019, senior PTI leader and Punjab Minister Aleem Khan was arrested by NAB for having assets beyond means. Consequently, he rendered in his resignation to the chief minister. This allowed the PTI to mount pressure on Sharif to step down as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.
In the larger scheme of things, the accountability taking place in Pakistan at the moment is worth its salt only if those who have plundered and lied themselves into power are brought to task
PPP has now joined the PML-N lawmakers to protest the detention of Shahbaz Sharif and the consequent pressure on him to step down, citing it as a ploy of the government playing “politics of revenge”. Lawmakers have already threatened the government of disruption and accused it of putting democracy in ‘danger’ if it does not subside in its demand for Sharif to resign as PAC Chairman. This frequently used maneuver by the two main opposition parties has made one thing abundantly clear: when it comes to vested interests they will do as the Romans do and protest.
It is not a question of Shahbaz Sharif, rather, of what he represents: the decay that is now so deeply entrenched within our democratic system, that to take it out would bear semblance to conducting an amputation in order to save the entire body from disease. Decades of stagnation, lack of transparency and a complete and utter undermining of the rule of law has given way for politicians to conduct themselves without any fear of accountability. Corruption is so deeply entrenched within our system that it has evolved and settled to become almost a part of it. Where, in a fair-minded society, would it be acceptable for a Committee that is supposed to be a check on the use of resources, have as its Chairman an individual who is embroiled in investigations and scandals linked to the misappropriation of funds? An individual whose conflict of interest is so glaringly obvious that it would be naïve to think Shahbaz Sharif would carry out his duties fairly. It is ironic and sad that this has been the state of affairs in Pakistan for decades. Simply put, people in power, civilians or military, have all made money off this country regardless of what they may choose to call themselves.
In the larger scheme of things, the accountability taking place in Pakistan at the moment is worth its salt only if those who have plundered and lied themselves into power are brought to task in the true letter of the law. Unfortunately, so far, NAB has been used as more of a private tool by successive governments (civilian and military both) for blackmailing and victimising opponents. It is imperative that for any true answerability to occur, that NAB be allowed to function in its independent capacity. Till that occurs we are likely to see many more Sharifs, Zardaris and the like holding powerful offices and trying their best to influence whoever they can to facilitate themselves. And while they may yet be able to survive this throng of investigations and scandals, who is to know how long Pakistan can survive them.
The French author George Bernanos who was also a soldier in World War I, wrote, “The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies the means.” This stands true, the end cannot be allowed to justify the means. To acknowledge that corruption is too far entrenched and that to fight it one has to play by its rules is not an excuse. PM Khan, while a resolute proponent of transparency, will need to thoroughly clean his own house first before he can even think of bringing any sort of long-term culpability within the system. Just like Rome was not built in a day, a corruption-free Pakistan will not be built in a term.
