Going for the big fish

It is refreshing to find a positive development in the battle against corruption in Pakistan, where all too often wealth, privilege and ‘connections’ insulate the most corrupt from investigation or prosecution. Thus we welcome the investigation launched by NAB into the affairs of the brother of former army chief General (retd) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. It appears that the investigation has the blessing of the current Chief of the Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif, in itself an unusual circumstance. There is no suggestion anywhere that the former army chief is in any way involved or implicated in the business dealings of his brothers and other retired army officers, and those currently being investigated by NAB have sought to explicitly distance themselves from General (retd) Kayani.

What is being investigated is corruption of the highest order. It is alleged that millions of rupees have been milked from the Rs17 billion DHA City scheme in Lahore. The scheme was launched in 2009, mostly to accommodate the families of those who had died or been wounded in the service of their country. They were to be allotted plots in recognition of services rendered. Kamran Kayani of Elysium Holdings and Hammad Arshad of Globaco tendered for and were awarded the project — and then have failed to deliver six years later. It is alleged that these two individuals embezzled the money, depriving ordinary people of their right and just reward. It is also alleged that the pair are involved in a similar set of offences in DHA, Islamabad. They must be investigated and if appropriate, prosecuted with the full force of the law.

Few of the big fish are ever caught, never mind hunted down. Those that are nabbed, often wriggle off the hook and disappear abroad along with their ill-gotten gains. Both Kamran Kayani and Hammad Arshad are now on the Exit Control List (ECL), which should at least prevent them from fleeing, but even the ECL has proved suspiciously porous in the past. Corruption is endemic but it can be fought. It has often been alleged that corrupt elements that have connections to powerful state institutions aren’t pursued with the same urgency and vigour that is shown in going after politicians involved in wrongdoings. This recent development appears to be an attempt to address this perception. We hope NAB well in its endeavours.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2016.

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