We are being ruled by individuals who diligently pay all taxes in foreign countries
LAHORE: All over the world, big businesses influences politics indirectly through contributions, but when big businesses get directly involved in politics, the common man suffers and the national exchequer is likely to be pilfered. National interests are prone to be compromised at the altar of greed and profiteering. The universally accepted code of ethics and Islamic governance practices during the caliphate period emphasised that rulers should not have conflicts of interest. What can be a bigger verdict on our leaders’ poor governance and lopsided priorities than the fact that there is not a single hospital in Pakistan in which members of the government themselves have the confidence to be treated at?
Mega projects, which should have been earning accolades from the public, are becoming controversial because contracts are given to firms owned by politicians or their cronies, who compromise on quality with state regulatory authorities under pressure to overlook this. In a country where millions suffer from malnutrition, sickness and injustice because of a paucity of funds for welfare, it is criminal to give subsidies to sugar barons and numerous tax amnesty schemes for traders earning millions of rupees.
Can anybody in power justify levying 15 per cent withholding tax on the earnings of pensioners, senior citizens and widows, who invest their meagre lifelong savings in National Savings schemes?
It is ironic that before 1947, all major policy decisions were taken by our rulers in London, while in 2016, they are taken by brown natives heading major political parties, whose families and assets are also located there, making them susceptible to foreign pressures. Pakistan’s sovereignty is at stake because of greed and vested interests of a few political figures, who consider Pakistan worthy only to rule or do business in, but not for their families to live here. We are being ruled by individuals who diligently pay all taxes in foreign countries, but consider it either a sin or an insult to pay taxes in Pakistan.
Malik Tariq Ali
Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2016.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
