In defence of the CSP

In Pakistan, we have tended to destroy institutions rather than to strengthen and build them up. In particular, we have been destroying the admirable administrative framework created by the British, which we inherited in the shape of the Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP).

The first body blow to this service was hurled by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Pakistan’s administration has never recovered since then. Another nail in its coffin was driven by dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf when he abolished the office and powers of the deputy commissioner.

In a column in this newspaper on April 4, 2014, titled “Decolonising our civil services”, Hussain Nadim resorted to supporting a destructive mode. He advocated the entire administrative paraphernalia of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. By painting an adverse caricature of senior civil servants, Nadim shows them in a badly-tainted light. He uses emotive expressions and popular cliches to denigrate them. He overlooks the dedication, idealism, commitment and impartiality that most officers of the Civil Service of Pakistan were noted for. Such diatribes could destroy whatever motivation is still remaining among its officers.

Why is there this tendency to ‘destroy’ instead of ‘to build’ in our country? It seems it is a reflection of our society as a whole and our dwindling values. The administration cannot be kept immune from the sickness of the society as a whole and is bound to be affected by such malignancy. And this is what has unfortunately happened.

Today, we have a huge proliferation of government officials, a large number of who have been politicised. They are involved in bitter internal struggles for power and turf. Thus, in present circumstances, it becomes difficult to reconstitute and restore a lean, efficient and impartial administration. And with the jealousies and enmities prevailing everywhere, the task has become almost impossible.

Not all CSP officers were paragons of virtue. But the service as a whole was neutral and competent. It was the framework which had held the country together in its early decades despite overwhelming odds. At that time, most people had thought Pakistan would not survive at all.

The British had a good understanding of the people and society here. They fashioned the administration accordingly. Just the mere fact that this system was created by them should not lead to its demolition and outright condemnation. A constant harping on the colonial theme must not lead to ignoring the real merit of the set-up. A little less virulence and a greater objectivity is thus called for.

The task of governance in a country of 180 million is gigantic. Let us now stop experimenting with new schemes one after the other. We must make do with tried and tested methods. In particular, the office of the deputy commissioner should be vested with magisterial powers and the superintendent of police be made subordinate to him once again. Let the administration in both rural and urban areas run efficiently, quietly and impartially. This is a dire need.

I would urge less emotion, envy and superficiality in criticism of the CSP, especially when its officers are not allowed to publicly express the alternative point of view. A forest can be easily razed to the ground but it requires long years and efforts to grow again. Demolition is easy but building up institutions is arduous and difficult.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2014.

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