Name and shame

The convention and precedent of thriving at state expense must come to an end

The who’s who, and movers-and-shakers, of Pakistan are all in it. The placing of Toshakhana record in public has simply exposed as to how all those who were at the helm of affairs had benefited from state-gifts, and there are hardly any exceptions who had exhibited the decency to stay aloof. A department of Cabinet Division is supposed to retain these valuables that are given to dignitaries by foreign governments, as a goodwill gesture, and they range from state-of-the art automobiles to gold-plated souvenirs, ornaments and expensive wrist watches. But most of them to this day have gone astray for a toss. Either these gifts were taken away free of cost or were assessed for peanuts and grabbed. The court’s insistence to make public the entire data from 1947 onwards, and not from 2002 as declassified by the government after much ado, will surely spill more beans.

The issue has now become a laughing stock as dirty linen is being washed in public. What started as a case of victimisation against former prime minister Imran Khan, on his acquiring of wrist watches for a price tag and subsequent sell-off, is now haunting all and sundry. Politicians, bureaucrats, judges and generals have had their way at impunity, and there are no two arguments that state exchequer had been robbed, and public trust dismayed in these sordid affairs. The list goes on to dilate the classical valuables that were embezzled or misappropriated without an iota of civic responsibility. The so-called law to furnish a nominal payment for the booty is quite uncivil, and must be scrapped. Perhaps, that is why the court is interested in knowing the devil in the details, as to how accolades that came the state way and for the people were snatched indecently.

This convention and precedent of thriving at state expense must come to an end. This is an undesired exercise which not only hurts the ego of the nation, but also exposes the ugliness of our public representatives and state-office bearers. Let the Toshakhana mystery be named and shamed.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2023.

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