KARACHI:
Any system of governance, especially democracy can only deliver if the elected head of state exhibits compassion and adheres to universally accepted norms of morality and ethics without any conflicts of interest. Tolerating dissent, constitutional supremacy and transparency are also crucial in a strong democracy. Had we adhered to Jinnah’s vision, the geography and political history of Pakistan would not have suffered the humiliation of defeat and surrender, nor would we face terrorism and extremism today and an economy in a perpetual state of decline.
The decadence of ethics and morality within corridors of power, since 1956 onwards, can be gauged from the shameful controversy surrounding the disposal of Toshakhana gifts. These gifts belong to the state but have been retained by heads of state and other paid or elected public office holders at a depreciated value assessed by subordinates for benefit of these VVIPs. All over the civilised world, heads of state traditionally exchange gifts as a gesture of goodwill between two states. In the US, the Constitution Article 1, section 9 prohibits anyone in the US government from receiving a personal gift from a foreign head of state without the consent of Congress.
During President Ronald Reagan’s administration, the law required an annual listing of all gifts valued at $35 or more if the total value of such gifts from a source totalled $100 in a year. This maximum retainable value of all gifts received by an individual a year based on market value was raised to $180 and is $500 today. Gifts not retained by the President or First Lady at market value are transferred to the National Archives and become part of the presidential museum library. What more embarrassment will it take for rules to be enforced in Pakistan? The gifts should not be retained by the Prime Minister, President, or other public office holders at market value.
Malik Tariq Ali
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2022.
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