No longer immune

COAS General Raheel Sharif has consistently indicated he is intolerant of corruption. He got the result that he wanted

A crack has appeared in the culture of impunity that, for too long, has protected those in high places from scrutiny or prosecution. Any inquiry into the workings of the military has typically been stonewalled, and it is unusual for wrongdoings to come to light, let alone for individuals to have been punished. Now a military investigation into a scam involving the National Logistics Cell (NLC) found on August 5 that two former generals were guilty of making illegal investments in the stock exchange.



That there was an investigation and its results were made public is in itself encouraging, an indication that the military is not above the law and that it is willing to mete out and reveal, punishment to those found guilty. The case is complex and in other cultures would be called ‘white-collar crime’. In this instance, the khaki-collar crime involved the making of incorrect decisions regarding investments that were in direct contravention of NLC rules and protocols and in doing so caused substantial losses to the organisation.

Two retired generals were punished under the Pakistan Army Act, and the punishment in military terms was severe. One retired general had been dismissed from service which implies “forfeiture of rank, decorations, medals, honours, awards, seizure of pension, recovery of personal gains, cancellation of service benefits and all other allied facilities”. A heavy penalty indeed for a man who would have expected a comfortable retirement. Another Lt General had been awarded “Severe displeasure (Recordable)”. Yet another was cleared and absolved of all charges.

The irregularities came to light first in 2009, when the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee observed violations in implementation of rules and regulations, and it has taken six long years to reach this point, with those who matter not always cooperating in the investigation — but the result we regard as satisfactory. The sums of money involved were very considerable, with Rs4.3 billion invested illegally in the stock exchange. Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has consistently indicated that he is intolerant of corruption and wanted a swift resolution to such cases of malfeasance. He got the result that he wanted.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th,  2015.

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