By Anwer Hussain Sumra – Corruption, Nepotism and Political Elite in Pakistan
Investigative Journalist based in Lahore. He Tweets at @AnwerHSumra
Bribe culture is an old tool to win political support, strength and enhance the vote bank in a corrupt and vulnerable society. This bribe can be in the kind of money, contracts, permits, leases, licenses and jobs to supporters, voters, financers and voters. Normally such bribes is being offered under the banner of Nepotism, political affiliations and cronyism. All such offers are given in violation of the rule of law, bulldozing the merit, contrary to honesty and polluting the fairness in society. Sharifs are popularly known as the inventor/pioneer of this bribe culture in Pakistan. Since that day, it has been offered by public kitty at a massive level in Pakistan to win political support. They used it so successfully and skillfully that it helped them to govern Pakistan for almost 30 years. Eventually, other political figures were compelled to follow in their footsteps in politics, and now use of public finance for political benefits has become a fashion without fear. Although any political personality, whenever he took the reign of government, took the oath to protect public finance from wastage and uphold the trust of the public, the story remains the opposite. But after entering power corridors, the use of public kitties for the benefit of their nears and dears gets top priority. Now, this culture has been widely accepted by all walks of life because it is not treated as a sin or crime. The political elite as a whole has the same mindset to loot and share public finances with pride and prestige among themselves.
A glaring example of a political bribe is witnessed during the short tenure of Chaudhary Pervez Elahi in Punjab as Chief minister. It was done in the presence of honesty, integrity, merit and fairness narrative of the main allies Imran Khan Chairperson of PTI. The Punjab government headed by Elahi showered the blessing of finances and jobs over the Lawyer fraternity to dictate it to dance on their demand. The Punjab government offered 470 jobs to lawyers and extended grant-in-aid amounting Rs.341.5 million to various Bar Associations. The jobs include secretary of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Additional Advocate Generals, Assistant Advocate Generals, Senior Legal Advisors and Legal Advisors. According to documents, on the desires of the chief minister, the Punjab government appointed 33 Lawyers as Additional Advocates Generals and 65 Lawyers as Assistant Advocate Generals on contract. Even some Lawyers did not fulfil the required criteria and benchmark for recruitment for these posts. Additional Advocate General was offered a pay package of Rs.7,50000 and AAG Rs.5,50000, respectively per month. As many as 370 Lawyers were appointed Senior Legal Advisors and Legal Advisors in various corporations, district governments and autonomous bodies. The Punjab government provided heavy funds as a grant to various bar associations, including Rs.100 million to Supreme Court Bar, Rs.12.5 million to District Bar Sheikhupura, Rs.9 million to District Bar Tallagang, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan and Bahawalpur High Court Bars Rs. 5 million each. Each District Bar got Rs.2.5 million, and each Tehsil Bar got one million. Punjab Bar Association was given Rs.5 million, Mandi Bahawddin Rs.10 million, Malikwal Bar Rs.5 million, Phalia Bar Association Rs,5 million, Rawalpindi Bar AssociationsRs.5 million and Law Department Rs.5 million. This grant-in-aid was given under the cover to furnish Bar offices and purchase furniture and books for young advocates, but practically, it is a bribe to get the support of the office bearers and community in politics. Even Imran Khan himself handed over a cheque of Rs.50 million to Lahore Bar Association a day before PTI scheduled Long March to Islamabad.
According to documents, all recruitments were offered to residents of GT road districts, and the lion’s share went to Gujrat, Mandi, Sheikhupura and Chakwal, the home constituencies of the rulers and their buddies. These appointments were made on the recommendations of Hassan Naizi (nephew of IK), Advisor to CM on Law and provincial minister Law and Parliamentary Affairs Punjab. Now the question is if the rulers promote looting of public coffers, the slaughter of merit, unfairness and dishonesty in jobs provision and funds, then who will bell the cat of all these sins? The provision of jobs on merit introduces intellectual minds, hard workers and dedicated human resources, whereas cronyism produces deadwood and liabilities. The choice is ours; either we want to put this country on the right track or ruin it with ill designs and motives. If such practice continues unnoticed by the governing elite, then chaos and bank corruption will be the future of this sweet land. Now the time comes to stop such crimes with full force and promotes honesty, merit, justice and fairness in all functions of governance to safeguard this home sweet from collapse.
More Reports: https://republicpolicy.com/contract-awarding-by-bureaucracy-a-story-of-smart-corruption/
