KARACHI:
Experience has taught me how truth prevails in the presence of falsehood. However, it is usually a difficult journey as the corrupt often are more popular and get away with a lot of financial gains. Decades ago, I used to work at the commissioner’s office in Rawalpindi. One day an influential landlord from Sargodha came to file an appeal and obtain a stay order against the imposition of a fine by the irrigation department for illegal use of water.
I received his appeal documents but the lawyer accompanying him asked for a stay order against the fine too. I told them that issuing a stay against the fine was only the prerogative of the commissioner and that he was at his camp office in Murree. The landlord was not happy with my non-compliance and left for Murree to have things sorted out. There he met the HVC of the commissioner’s office who assured him that he would get the job done. The HVC called me via phone asking me to issue the stay order and hung up without hearing my response. The following day the landlord arrived at the commissioner office in Rawalpindi again demanding a stay order. I again turned down his request explaining that only the commissioner could issue this order. This time he threatened me with dire consequences and left for Murree for another visit, where he met the HVC who again assured him of getting things sorted out. The HVC phoned me and requested to issue the stay order. I insisted that it was not possible without the commissioner’s orders. The issue escalated and a complaint against me reached the commissioner. The HVC suggested that if I accepted my mistake and apologised, he would let things go. I later explained my side of the story to the commissioner.
In the end, the commissioner praised me for not succumbing to the wrong demand of the landlord and the matter was disposed of. However, I later learned that the worthy HVC had benefited from the applicant in the form of almost a year’s supply of ration such as ghee, wheat and rice which explained his affection for the landlord.
Raja Shafaatullah
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2021.
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