A burning question since many
years, the world has to suffer many problems due to this disease, yes; it is a
disease and a huge amount or its better to say the whole human creature is in
problem. Human beings are split up into two groups: the first is who are trying
to capture the whole world’s money and power and the second group is of the
people who are just seeking for a life without problems. Man has a nature
possibly you agree with me or may not be; that man wants everything to be in his
life, he wants every facility of the world and want to be overpowered and
honored. For this relaxation and for this place, they do whatever they can. The
thirst of fame and richness made man do things without thinking and in his
thirst, he forget about others needs and just seeks for his better future and a
better life.
"Corruption is a curse in India and among Muslims, especially the so-called
educated and intelligentsia. Unfortunately, it is this class that is selfish and
morally and intellectually corrupt. No doubt this disease is common, but among
this particular class of Muslims it is rampant."
Pakistan founder Jinnah's letter to Ispahani,
6 May 1945
Corruption in Pakistan is widespread, particularly in the government and lower
levels of police forces. In 2013, Pakistan scored 127 out of 175 on the
Corruption Perceptions Index published by the Transparency International. This
marked a significant improvement in the country's ranking on the index in five
years – the country scored 139 out of 174 in 2012, 134 out of 182 in 2011, 143
out of 178 in 2010, and 139 out of 180 in 2009.
Corruption has plagued Pakistan from the very moment it came into existence. It
was the unrepentant display of plutocracy amongst its powerful bureaucracy and
the West Pakistani Punjabi Muslim landowners that partly led to the secession of
East Pakistan into the nation-state of Bangladesh. Later, nationalization
policies prepared under the government of PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto paved the way
for the corrupt elites to politicize the nation's economic planning resulting in
a public outcry against corruption. This led the military dictator Muhammad
Zia-ul-Haq to draft policies regarding denationalization of institutions which
only ended up benefiting a few rich business magnates such as the future prime
minister, Nawaz Sharif, who was also a protégé of the military dictator.
In recent times, the 2008–2013 coalition government led by the Pakistan People’s
Party is criticized as the most corrupt government in the nation's history. This
led to the sudden decline in corruption in 2013 when the PPP-led government was
voted out from office. Since then, there is a growing need to reform
accountability and anti-corruption policies at higher levels within the state
government.
In the wake of 2013 elections, massive electoral rigging was exposed through
first-hand accounts of several members of the public via social networking
websites. Specialized websites were set up to publish and archive material
exposing corrupt malpractices throughout the many polling stations serving
several constituencies. Several leaked videos of persons caught in the act of
rigging the polls went viral and caught the eye of the mainstream media becoming
topics of discussion in days to follow. Even before the elections, social media
served as an effective tool to hold the nation's to be leaders "accountable" for
various issues like corruption and education.
Citizen journalism is emerging as a growing phenomenon and social media is being
touted in Pakistan as an important tool that can be used to strengthen
democracy. Adding to the mix, several prominent politicians have moved to the
likes of Twitter to gather support and get prospective voters on board and
analysts think that this can lead to a better and direct accountability of
political leaders. Social media has also proved effective in identifying
corruption in mainstream media, particularly in the case of the media gate
scandal.
According to the 2002 study, 99% of 256 respondents reported facing corruption
of taxation. Furthermore, 32% of respondents reported paying bribes to have
their tax assessment lowered, and nearly 14% reported receiving fictitious tax
assessments until a bribe was paid.
In August 2010, reporters from News of the World orchestrated a sting operation
which was able to identify three Pakistani cricket players – Salman Butt,
Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – and a bookmaker Mazhar Majeed of being
complicit in a row over spot-fixing in the fourth England-Pakistan test match at
Lord's. The cricketers each received 30 months, one year and six months jail
term respectively while the bookmaker received two years and eight months jail
term in a verdict issued by the Crown Court on November 3, 2011. Following these
events, on 15 November 2011, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Zaka
Ashraf established an anti-corruption unit to prevent players from becoming
involved in illegal betting practices.
As of 2002, 96% of surveyed individuals reported corruption issues with
electrical utility officials during the past year. The most common types of
corruption were billing related. Some consumers admitted to illegally reducing
their utility bills, while others reported being harassed with inflated bills
intended to solicit bribes. Out of the pool of corruption affirmative
respondents, 71% reported that money was "demanded directly by the actor".
Corruption is the prime reason behind the economical instability. Corruption has
spread into the world and has ruined the economy. Just as a weed spread in the
field and affect the yield of the crop. Corruption is the mother of other
problem such as unemployment which will be discussed later. According to latest
report of Transparency International, Pakistan has been ranked at 42nd number
among the most corrupt nations of the world. From clerical staff to higher
offices and administrator, all are involved in corruption of one kind or the
other. Corruption in government departments is so much deep-rooted that a common
concept prevails that the system doesn’t let honest people to work peacefully.
There is a lack of responsibility due to wealthy pay.
I should like to give a warning to the landlords and capitalists who have
flourished at our expense by a system which is so vicious, which is so wicked
and which makes them so selfish that it is difficult to reason with them. The
exploitation of the masses has gone into their blood. They have forgotten the
lessons of Islam.
Founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam,
Every country is somehow based on corruption but the country which is based on
the pillars of Islam and dreams and determinations and courage of M. Iqbal and
M. Ali Jinnah, it should not adopt the traditions of non Muslims. The slaughters
and struggles have given us this country but the work which was given to us has
made it away from Islam. Our foremost duty is to serve this country and help our
elders to keep it away from corruption and make it a clear and in corrupted.