Speakers call for curbing corruption through reforms in judicial system, police

Focus of the meeting was on accountability at all governmental levels

KARACHI: Speakers at the meeting of Shura Hamdard Karachi chapter urged the government to introduce reforms in the judicial system and police to curb corruption as it is a menace devouring the resources of the country.

The meeting was held on 'Effective Accountability, Pre-emption of Mismanagement and its Effects on National Economy,' chaired by Justice (R) Haziqul Khairi at the Hamdard Corporate Office, Karachi.

Speaking on the occasion, Hamdard Foundation Pakistan President Sadia Rashid said, "If we have to become a developed nation, we have to evaluate how our neighbouring country China, our all-weather ally, has managed to reduce corruption and develop its socio-economic parameters."

Prof Dr Akhlaque Ahmed, former pro-vice chancellor, University of Karachi, said that chapters against corruption, based on Islamic values, should be added in the curriculum of primary and secondary education in order to inculcate integrity and honesty in young minds. The policy of borrowing money to run a country has proven counterproductive as the nation has already come under the burden of huge foreign loans creating severe economic problems in the country, he added.

Dr Abu Bakr Sheikh said that all government institutions should be made accountable to each other. The nation needed to get rid of corrupt politicians more than to have its stolen money returned back, he added.

Justice (r) Khairi said, "Islam is the only religion, which has given the concept of haram and halal (lawful and forbidden), therefore there is no place of corruption in a Muslim state like Pakistan." We should take stern actions against corruption to end this curse according to the Islamic teachings and sayings of our Quaid, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he asserted.

Commodore (r) Sadeed Anwar Malik said that sans democracy the process of accountability could not go ahead and work without interference. So, if we want this process to continue we should take care of democracy, he maintained.

Ibn Hasan Rizvi said that corruption would eat the country like termite and destroy it, thus delay in finalising the cases of corruption was tantamount to denial of justice and interest of the country. Anwar Aziz Jakartawala was of the opinion that without quick trial and severe punishment, the curse of corruption could not be eliminated.



Engineer Anwarul Haq Siddiqui also endorsed the severe punishments, quick decisions and without break judicial proceedings in corruption cases and said that it was the only way to curb the menace.

Professor Muhammad Rafi said unless social justice is implemented the corruption and other social evils would not be eliminated from society.  Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) had not only stressed on social justice but also implemented it in the first Islamic state of Medina, he added.

Shamim Kazmi said that, according to a survey, female officials, doctors, engineers and workers were more honest and efficient. More opportunities should be provided to the female officers in civil service, she demanded.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2019.