KARACHI:
Since the creation of Pakistan, our ruling elite has not shown love and loyalty to the country. They buried the spirit and speeches of the Quaid and set on a self-serving agenda. After Quaid-e-Azam and Liaqat Ali Khan, every ruler who assumed power was more focused on forging their grip on power than setting the country on a path to a strong economy and prosperity. Every government claimed that it will root out corruption, but we keep going in circles.
The system works on the old practice of “you scratch my back and I scratch yours.” Our leaders care more about loyalty than honesty when they are in power. They prefer officers who would do anything for them to keep them in power rather than following the law and serving people. This promotes nepotism, dishonesty, and poor governance. Unless our civil servants are given the freedom to work for people without any political interference and with strong accountability, we will not see any change.
We do have good honest and hard-working people such as the female Additional Deputy Commissioner who worked selflessly in Nowshera to avert flood damages to life and property. However, the system rewards those who are loyal instead of those who are honest and hard-working. No wonder it has been 75 years and we are going in circles with the system falling apart and corruption touching the limits.
Raja Shafaatullah
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2022.
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