Our ruling elite, bureaucrats and technocrats, particularly in Sindh, have come to accept corruption as a way of life.
ISLAMABAD: The monster of corruption has boldly pervaded all spheres of Pakistani society and relief efforts in the drought and famine-struck areas of Thar are not an exception. Indeed, the judiciary, which is a beacon of hope for the downtrodden, can be a crucial player in anti-corruption efforts and indeed, our honourable judges of the superior courts are actively playing their part.
However, in the wake of chronic corruption, I request young judicial officers to play an effective role in eradicating the menace of corruption from Sindh because, clearly, it is due to corruption that the province is suffering from drought and famine, bad governance and growing hatred and intolerance. This is a land which should be defined by amity, peace and harmony, but sadly that is currently not the case. It is worth quoting Dr N Linton of Transparency International, who once said, “Corruption undermines democracy by contributing to social disintegration and distorting economic systems.” Indeed, sociologists and criminologists have postulated that corruption is the fons et origo of all modern-day crimes. In other words, it is the parent of all economic crimes, cheating, fraud, embezzlement, looting of public funds, etc.
The irony of it all, however, is that our ruling elite, bureaucrats and technocrats, particularly in Sindh, have come to accept corruption as a way of life, especially the cynics, who opine that corruption can never be reduced, let alone wiped out in this country. They say, with a pompous air of authority, that our present effort at building a transparent society is futile. They argue that this menace called corruption is so endemic and has eaten so deeply into the fabric of the nation — like the AIDS virus — that nothing can be done about it and that it is highly infectious and not amenable to treatment. Their contention is that every department of government institutions has been affected and it is a waste of time to even attempt a cure. The only remedy, they maintain, is to learn to live with it. Despite this entire doomsday scenario, I am hopeful that the more courageous people in our country and judges of unquestionable integrity will wage a war against the menace of corruption in Sindh.
Hashim Abro
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2014.
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