Corruption is not limited to politicians but covers all echelons of society.
NIDDERAU, GERMANY: Your editorial of July 11 “Corrupt practices” is apt and to the point. It rightly points out that corruption is not limited to politicians but covers all echelons of society like the judiciary, police and many officials working in the government. That said, we should not ignore the military either.
For instance, armed forces officers are allocated plots in affluent localities at rates that are much less than those prevailing in the market. Furthermore, their children have quality schooling provided to them for free or very little cost. Their families receive excellent health services without paying a penny, in addition to furnished accommodations, domestic help and rations, all at no charge. To ensure these luxuries, resources are often diverted from the social sector to the defence sector. Isn’t this is a kind of institutionalised corruption?
Any effort at fighting corruption should not be targeting only politicians but should look at all institutions of society and government.
Sharif Lone
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2013.
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