History dictates that such societies do not last long
KARACHI: A public servant who was accused of plundering national funds to the extent of Rs40 billion has been cleared by the National Accountability Bureau against a plea bargain of two billion rupees. He has thus been rewarded for his position and connections to the tune of Rs38 billion. It could be recalled that a cash hoard of some Rs700 million was recovered from his house in Quetta. Newspapers published pictures of designer luggage stuffed with cash being taken away for counting.
The plea bargain also goes on our streets and in our police stations, when petty criminals are let off on small cash payments. In the good old days, it was called bribe. The anti-corruption department sometimes arrests some constables and occasionally arrests other officials. Can the Supreme Court intervene in setting the future course of events in such cases, according to common law? We have created a society where the rich and connected can get away with anything, while the weak live to suffer. History dictates that such societies do not last long.
Muhammad Sharjeel Jawaid
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2016.
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