Breach of trust

A month after catastrophic floods, the charges levelled against the influential are serious.

The Lahore High Court, on Thursday, formed a three-member judicial commission to investigate allegations that landlords and several politicians – including Zulfiqar Ali Khosa, a cabinet member – had breached dykes in southern Punjab to save their lands, while causing larger areas to be inundated. Similar accusations have been heard from angry protestors in Sindh about many politicians including the chief minister, Khursheed Shah, and Aijaz Jhakrani. One of the protestors said that Shah had asked for millions of rupees to divert floodwaters elsewhere. PML-Q legislator Marvi Memon moved a resolution in the National Assembly on Friday for the formation of an independent commission that could investigate all such allegations. The president, on Friday, also said that he was for an inquiry into such allegations of omission and commission.

A month after catastrophic floods, with the water still wreaking havoc, that have left 20 million people affected and more than 8.9 million acres of productive farmland destroyed, the charges levelled against the influential are serious. The idea that someone can decide to play God with the livelihood and lives of the poor just to save commercial crops is horrendous. Such reports have now made their way into the international media, putting another question mark on our credibility. If there is any truth to the accusations, stern action needs to be taken.

The federal government seems okay with provincial governments handling the issue. The only concern with provinces forming their own commissions would be commissions that can investigate without being influenced. Punjab has created a judicial commission; perhaps Sindh should do the same. The findings of the inquiry should then be made public and those found to be involved punished. It is not the first time that those who have the backing of their wealth or political connections have been accused of saving themselves at the cost of the poor. However, the way that the allegations are handled and investigated is crucial. A fair and impartial inquiry and a deserving punishment can not only help quell any dissonance at the local level but also strengthen the government’s credibility in the eyes of donor countries.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2010.