Corruption is the misuse of
entrusted power for private gains. It is of different types e.g. petty, grand
and political. The petty corruption is usually linked with the lower salary
employees and generally considered as facilitating payments, whereas, the grand
corruption is associated with the high level bureaucracy. However, the political
corruption as name indicates is related to the politician. They usually involve
in this type corruption in order to maintain their status quo. The corruption
varies in the rate of presence, therefore, in this regard the incidence of
corruption may be rare, widespread or systemic. The rare corruption is easy to
identify and control than widespread. Whereas, the systemic corruption becomes a
way of life and it is very difficult to overcome. The corruption is universal,
however, its existence varies in rate of occurrence. Since the inception of
Pakistan, the country has witnessed of the rampant corruption. Many governments
in general and the governments in decade of 1990 in particular has become the
victim of the widespread corruption and corrupt practices. In a recent survey
conducted by the Transparency International, Pakistan ranks lowered from 42th
most corrupt country to 34th country in the world.
Islam explicitly condemns the existence of corruption in every form. Hazart
Muhammad (PBUH) declared that; Damned is the bribe giver (or corruptor)-the
bribe taker (the corrupted) and he who goes between them.
Quaid-i- Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah has strongly condemned the presence of
corruption. He avowed a strict action against such mal practices and their DOER
Prior to the elections, the socialist-oriented PPP formed an alliance with PML(Q),
while on the conservative side, the PML (N) allied with PML(F) and Sunni Tehreek.
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan led centrist PTI, Majlis
Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, Jamaat-e-Islami and Bahawalpur National Awami Party will
also contest the elections. A total of 86.19 million residents were registered
to vote....
Despite the opposing party’s claims of vote rigging, according to unofficial
results disclosed, Nawaz Sharif seems poised to become the prime minister of
Pakistan. While Sharif has not officially won the election, both the U.S. and
India have already congratulated him on the historic, peaceful transition of
civilian power, and Sharif has already selected a finance minister to serve on
his cabinet.
In this political comeback after being ousted in a military coup 14 years ago,
and being jailed and going into exile in Saudi Arabia, Sharif and his
center-right Pakistan Muslim League Party is projected to win 130 of the 176
directly elected seats in Pakistan’s national assembly. This shows a crushing
defeat of the outgoing Pakistan People’s Party, the party of the late Prime
Minister Benazir Bhutto, dropping from 125 to 33 assembly seats. It also puts
Sharif and his party in a much stronger position than the PPP, which had a weak
coalition in its 5 years of rule and often teetered on the verge of
collapse...During his campaign, Sharif said that he plans to end Pakistan’s role
in the U.S.-led “war on terror” in the interest of Pakistan’s national
sovereignty, leading to fears that Islamic militants, especially those in the
stronghold Punjab region, will be able to rise. Moreover, the Pakistani army
remains a strong force within the nation, leading to questions on Sharif’s true
power over the wishes of the military.
Some have also expressed concern that this can also lead to tense relationships
with the U.S. This is an important issue to consider, especially given the U.S.
drone strikes in Pakistan that, according to Pakistani government claims, often
end up killing civilians as collateral damage, and the fact that Sharif has
asserted that these drone strikes threaten Pakistan’s sovereignty and are a “top
concern” for the nation. However, as a “pragmatic” leader, this does not seem to
be a reason for Sharif to allow Pakistan’s business relations with the U.S. to
sour; if anything, his pro-business agenda will allow these relationships to
improve into the future, even with a more nationalistic and protective stance on
Pakistan’s sovereignty. Obama’s congratulations on the success of Pakistan’s
elections also indicate better relations with Pakistan on the horizon.
The elections in Pakistan are a huge turning point for the nation, not only in
its peaceful transition of power in a country which has experienced several
military coups, but in its role in Pakistan’s evolving relations with other
countries, and Pakistan’s increasing role as a player in international
politics...