A surgical operation was conducted in Lyari, Karachi, by Rangers other day. On hue and cry by the Karachites of all sections of society, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah stated that the operation in Lyari had not been conducted on his orders and that it was conducted without his knowledge. How surprising it is that ruling governments, both in the province of Sindh and the center are being run by Pakistan Peoples' Party and no one is owning the operation conducted by Rangers!
Labels: Governance, Karachi
posted @ 8:03 PM,
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Baluchistan is area wise the largest of the four provinces of Pakistan. It is the smallest province in terms of the population. Ever since independence there has invariably been lot of hue and cry regarding the deprivation of the rights of the people of Baluchistan. All governments to date have been accepting the existence of this deprivation and announcing different packages and incentives to make up the deprivation. However, the hue and cry regarding the deprivation has continued to increase despite all these efforts. In the recent past, particularly, after the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti and killing of a few more political leaders, this hue and cry has gathered a new momentum and now the voices of secession from Pakistan are on the increase.
People of Baluchistan feel that they are not getting the due share of development and their democratic rights of freedom of expression, equal opportunities etc are also not respected. The other sore point is about the royalty for the mineral resources like natural gas from Sui gas fields, copper from Saindak, marble etc. In the last few years there have been a large number of people from Baluchistan who, according to the political leadership, have gone missing as they have been picked up by the security agencies, namely, army. People of Baluchistan are against the involvement of the army and even the establishment of new cantonments. Gwadar port is yet another sore point where non Baluchis have purchased lot of land and are working in various projects which is going to change the demography of the area. Notwithstanding the poor standard of education, the people of Baluchistan want all public office vacancies to be filled by them and not from outside Baluchistan.
It is in this backdrop that the present government had promised to alleviate the sufferings of Baluchistan through a package. The said package has been placed before the national assembly. The Baluch leadership’s response has been twofold; the political leadership of Baluchistan was not taken into confidence while preparing the package and that the package falls well short of the demands of the people of Baluchistan. Yet another cry has been that the people of Baluchistan wanted these promises to be converted into deeds and going by the past precedence, they had all the reservations about the implementation of the package.
Even if the Baluchistan package presented in the National Assembly is well intentioned, it’s not being perceived as such. Wouldn't it have been better that all the elected and non elected political leadership was taken on board while preparing the package. If this was not possible, the least which could have been done was to present the package in the Provincial Assembly of Baluchistan prior to its approval by the National Assembly and the government.
Labels: Baluchistan, Democracy, Governance, Provincial Autonomy
posted @ 6:53 PM,
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As per the press reports, MNA Javed Hashmi, who also heads the NA human rights body’s sub-committee on American private security firm Blackwater’s alleged presence in the country, said that the US was purchasing land in the suburbs of the federal capital Islamabad, including Malpur, Sihala and the Simly Dam area. He also said,“Influential people in Islamabad are renting out their houses to Americans,” and added “as per preliminary information, it is an established fact that Inter-Risk and DynCorp are training recruits in Peshawar”.
There has been a lot of hue and cry on part of the residents of Islamabad for many weeks about abnormal activities of the foreign diplomats and nationals. It has been the subject of the media, too. There have been reports that foreign nationals are employing highly trained retired soldiers of the special services group of the army in large numbers offering them very attractive salaries.
There is a need to probe into the matter to verify if all this is true or mere speculations. Based on the probe, government should take appropriate measures in either case and let the people know about it.
Labels: Activities of Foreigners, Governance, security
posted @ 7:23 PM,
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Transparency International (TI), in its report for the year 2009, has rated Pakistan to be the 42nd most corrupt country in the world. Last year Pakistan was rated as 47th most corrupt country. Thus, as per this report, corruption has further increased in Pakistan over the last one year. India has been reported to be at 84th position. TI has cited issue of (National Reconciliation Ordinance) NRO in end 2007 as the main cause for continuing increase in corruption. The NRO grants immunity to a large number of politicians and bureaucrats charged with corruption. Most of these politicians and bureaucrats led by Mr. Asif Ali Zardari are back in power.
The PPP led government continues to boast of heroic deeds since their coming in power about two years ago. The report of TI bares it all. The worthy prime minister (PM) has shown his concern about it and formed committees to streamline procedures for good governance. This action on part of the PM very clearly reflects his acceptance of the TI report. He could have denied it, too, to be false and ill founded! The thought of good governance has occurred to the PM after this report. What have his cabinet and he been doing for the last two years? Waiting for the report! PPP calls itself to be the champion of democracy and good deeds. Rhetoric are good for a while. Deeds speak louder than words. In stead of competing with India in Cricket and Hockey matches, and being emotional about it, Pakistan needs to compete with India in the field of good governance.
Labels: Corruption, Democracy, Governance
posted @ 7:43 AM,
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Forty years ago, one of the reasons of downfall of Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan, then president of Pakistan, was the increase of sugar price from Rs.1.50 per kg to Rs.1.75 per kg. Our country has been passing through the sugar crisis for over two months now. Sugar which was earlier available in the market in plenty at Rs.38.00 to Rs.40.00 per kg is in short supply and the shopkeepers are selling it at the rates of their choice from Rs.50.00 to Rs.80.00 per kg in different parts of the country. And, this is happening despite the ruling of the Supreme Court of Pakistan that sugar be provided to the masses at Rs. 40.00 per kg.
All Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (APSMA) has repeatedly brought out that it had informed the Ministry of Production in early Summers that, in view of less production of Sugar in the country, government should import sugar which was then available in the international market at cheaper rates than now. According to APSMA, Ministry of Production did not follow the advice and this is the main cause of the present sugar crisis. Federal as well as the provincial governments continue to opine that the crisis is prevailing because of the hoarding on part of the sugar mills and the wholesalers. The other opinion is that Supreme Courts ruling has discouraged the market forces to come into play resulting in the crisis. However, the fact is that the ruling came much after the crisis had already begun. Provincial governments continue to boast of administrative measures like raiding of the few of the sugar mills and recover thousands of sugar bags hoarded by them. Provision of sugar to the masses at the rate of Rs.40.00 per kg through government run Utility Stores, too, has been boasted about but once the masses cue up to buy sugar during the announced two hours period, to their total disappointment, they are unable to buy any sugar as either the stores are closed or the sugar is not there to be sold. This is resulting in unrest and agitations in small numbers which is likely to grow with every day passing. Either the government officials are incompetent or they are party to the artificial escalation of prices. Both of these are inexcusable.
Notwithstanding the fact that Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan was a dictator, finding himself being unable to control the agitations, he chose to resign. I doubt if any such option is even under consideration of the worthy president, prime minister, chief ministers or the concerned federal and provincial ministers. We are yet to hear even a single case of proceedings against any of the culprits; government officials, the mill owners or the wholesalers. Not a single head has rolled but for that of poor masses who are in search of sugar from pillar to the post. Initiated by a private TV channel, our political leadership, in the government and opposition alike, could not think of 'Stop using sugar drive' and have not bothered to support it by personal example.
Labels: Corruption, Governance, Government, Leadership, Sugar Crisis
posted @ 2:55 PM,
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Associated Press reports that William Jefferson, a Democrat who represented parts of New Orleans for nearly 20 years has been sentenced Friday to 13 years in prison for taking $500,000 in bribes and seeking millions more in exchange for using his influence to broker business deals in Africa.
I long to see such like verdicts in Pakistan.
Labels: Corruption, Democracy, Governance
posted @ 11:35 AM,
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The debate about the Kerry Luger bill passed by both houses of America has been on in National Assembly of Pakistan. The bill grants $ 1.5 bn per annum for five years but has certain conditions attached to it. These conditions have been rejected by the opposition parties, media and a wide cross section of Pakistani society. The pressure on the government has been so intense that ultimately some of its parliamentarians too opposed the conditions. The conditions relate to micromanagement of the aid money, American access to persons under the garb of pursuing nuclear proliferation network and involvement in the affairs of Pakistan army promotions and the use of military aid. But the most offensive condition relates to the language used while talking about Pakistan's handling of terrorism which presupposes Pakistan to be sponsoring terrorism and asks it to cease it.
However, the surprising thing has been the sudden flight back of Pakistan's foreign minister to Washington, while the debate in the national assembly is still on, to have an explanatory note added to the bill to mitigate the effects of the conditions laid down in the bill before the bill was signed by the American president. And, the latest is that the debate in the Pakistani parliament has been wound up without any vote on the subject or without any resolution. What's the use of such a debate? Where is the writ of the Pakistani parliament? Whither democracy?
Labels: Democracy, Governance, Parliament, US Aid, US Pakistan Relations
posted @ 7:45 PM,
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The News International of Tuesday, October 06, 2009 writes,
During the question hour, Mr Tarin made a written revelation that the powerful bureaucrats sitting in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had quietly spent a World Bank loan of Rs150 million on purchase of office furniture from China. At the same time he made another disturbing confession that during the last one year in office, his financial team put a new burden of Rs100 billion loan on the nation to meet the rising difference in income and expenditure.
The above is just one example of the style of governance. Worthy finance minister should be credited with speaking the truth, which I assume it is. However, where are the deeds following the government's resolve to lead the austerity drive?
Labels: Governance, Government
posted @ 10:02 PM,
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The nation celebrates its 63rd independence day. Allow me to write, it would be more appropriate to use the word 'observe' rather than 'celebrate'. It's a day of soul searching for the ones who have souls. I do not know what to say about the soulless ones. Whereas, it is important for each one of us to reflect back and ask ourselves as to what goods and bads we did during the past one year which had a direct or indirect bearing on our fellow Pakistanis, it is more important for the politically, monetarily and socially blessed ones (who, mistakenly, consider it to be a blessing rather than a test) of the society to do so. The latter section of the society needs to ask itself as to whether what they are and what they have is through fair means or otherwise. It's never too late to mend. But, does the ruling elite of the country in which I also include the rich have soul? This section of society is chiefly responsible for all ills prevalent in our society. Most of the ruling elite are busy in power politics and filling its purses. I wonder what does the ruling elite do with their ever increasing accumulation of wealth mostly obtained through unfair means.
Despite being one of the few nuclear states of the world, we are nowhere in terms of development; literacy rate, health, education, per capita income, political and economic health, law and order and so on. Masses are sick of but helpless too facing load shedding, price hike and lack of opportunities of employment or doing business. More and more people continue to fall below the poverty line. The prevailing lawlessness is directly related to the increase in poverty. Once a person, despite the best of his efforts, can't earn livelihood through fair means, can't have himself or near and dear ones medically treated, can't have a shelter to live under, can't educate children, can't have access to clean drinking water etc, the only other options left with him are to either commit suicide or choose to become lawless. And, this is what is happening to our society. The increasing trend of looting of banks and bungalows, kidnapping for ransom, etc are the proof of the same. Although the members of the ruling elite see it happening to their fellow beings on daily basis, they foolishly think that it won't happen to them till their turn comes. It's not late yet. But a beginning has to be made before it gets too late.
Labels: Governance, Government, Poverty, Power Politics
posted @ 1:04 PM,
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These days, media in Pakistan is cluttered with the news about the proceedings going on in the Supreme Court about the ex military general Pervez Musharraf who ruled the country from 1999 to 2008. Although so far neither Gen (R) Pervez Musharraf has appeared in person nor has any one represented him in the court. The general has been abroad in Europe for quite some time. There a large number of cases including the one about abrogation of the constitution which if pursued can take him to the gallows.
However, the question is why should only he be prosecuted. Why not all other military rulers who took over the reigns of the country suspending the constitution. It is immaterial as to whether they are dead or alive. Many accomplices without the support of whom the take overs were not possible are still living.The cases must be proceeded with even the punishment is to be executed symbolically as was done with Cromwell of Britain. And, all of them are not dead either.
Labels: Governance, Law, Pervez Musharraf, Politics, Power Politics
posted @ 11:29 PM,
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PML(N)has decided to take good care of its electoral symbol which is lion. It has been reported in one of the TV channels that Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr. Shahbaz Sharif of PML(N)has ordered to arrange low temperature environments for the lion imported by the zoo authorities from Siberia. The project is going to cost Rs. 2.2 million. This money can surely be better used else where for the welfare of the poor in Punjab.
The first question is as to why such an animal was imported whom we could not look after within our meager resources. The second question is as to why more money should be extravagantly spent to sustain an animal who needs nothing of the sort back in Siberia. Yet another question is to identify other such like ventures where the money being spent is not worth its price. Having narrated the story accompanied by live pictures of the lion, the TV channel showed the interviews of half a dozen from amongst the masses. None of them supported the project and in stead criticized the government for wasting the money which can be spent to alleviate the sufferings of the poor.
Labels: Governance, PML(N), Politics, Poverty
posted @ 12:57 PM,
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The News International, Pakistan, Monday, July 20, 2009 writes,
Gilani said: “Enough is enough. I have assessed the performance of my ministers during the last one year. Now I have to make some changes according to merit, not according to somebody’s liking and disliking because I am responsible for running a country of more than 170 million people”.
It's a tall claim. I doubt if Mr. Gilani is serious about it. Even if he is, the next question is whether Mr. Zardari and his party will let him do it. There are over 90 persons working as ministers or enjoying the status of a minister. Not only the number is too large for a poor country like Pakistan to afford, most of these are the nominees of Mr. Zardari. Curtailing this number or replacing some of these will be at the cost of losing parliamentary support of these and the ones supporting them. These are the ills of democracy which are not likely to let him move in the right direction even if he so desires.
Labels: Democracy, Governance, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Zardari
posted @ 12:01 PM,
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According to The news International, Pakistan, Sunday, July 12, 2009
Fourteen sitting senators are enjoying their previous official positions as chairpersons of standing committees despite dissolution of all such panels with the oath-taking of 50 new members on March 12, 2009.
Mir Mohabat Khan Marri, Gulshan Saeed, Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi, SM Zafar, Tahir Ali Mashhadi, Wali Muhammad Badini, Ahmed Ali, Saeed Ahmed Hashmi, Muhammad Talha Mehmood, Naeem Hussain Chattha, Abdul Razzak Thahim, Abdul Raziq, Engr Rashid Ahmed and Kulsoom Perveen are the 14 beneficiary senators.
A chairperson of a committee, whether of the Senate or the National Assembly, receives Rs 12,700 extra as honoraria. He/she is authorised to receive Rs 3,750 daily (Rs 1,000 a daily allowance, Rs 750 conveyance allowance and Rs 2,000 housing allowance besides Rs 5 per kilometre or Business Class air ticket for travel purpose).
Our worthy legislators are supposed to be leading the nation upfront representing their constituencies or provinces. Their personal examples are supposed to be emulated by others. Whereas, it is surprising as to why the institution of Senate doesn't have a system to check these misappropriations, further surprising is as to why none of these have forfeieted these privileges by themselves. After all, these senators are the men of principles. If these leaders can't forego the privileges which they no longer are entitled to, what should the common masses expect from them in terms of policy decision making!
Labels: Corruption, Governance, Leadership, Legislators, Senators
posted @ 10:23 AM,
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According to The News International, Thursday, July 09, 2009
The petroleum product prices have been inflated again through president ordinance as the Petroleum Development Levy has been imposed on petroleum products with immediate effect, Geo news said early on Thursday.
Supreme Court of Pakistan had, on Tuesday, ordered the suspension of Carbon surcharge levied by the government. Before the fuel prices could be effective as per the ruling of the apex court, government of Pakistan has opted to use the backdoor to recover the intended money from the poor masses by imposing Petroleum Development Levy through a presidential ordinance. If the imposition of Petroleum Development Levy was important why the same was not included in the budget or why it was not imposed earlier. Such like arbitrary decisions by the government are going to increase its already growing unpopularity and result in start of confrontation with judiciary.
Labels: Governance, Petroleum Price, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 1:50 PM,
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In the last few days two major decisions have been given by the apex court. Firstly, it has asked the government not to raise the power tariff rates and secondly, it has stayed the levy of carbon surcharge on fuel. Both decisions have been very well received by the masses as these would alleviate their sufferings to some extent.
However, the question is as to in what all areas of governance the apex court can and will interfere. Prior to the levy of carbon surcharge, Supreme Court had stayed the increase in fuel rates. By introducing carbon surcharge on fuel, the government wanted to recover the money from the masses under a different name bu6 the same head of fuel. It implies that the government and the Supreme court will continue to play the game of hide and seek. The former does not appear to be learning any lessons from the decisions of the apex court.
Labels: Carbon Surcharge, Governance, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 5:51 PM,
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According to The News International, Pakistan, Sunday, July 05, 2009,
Former president General Parvez Musharraf, following in the footsteps of his hand-picked prime minister Shaukat Aziz, has taken away 168 expensive gifts worth about Rs 40 million (at the pitifully low official price) given by top foreign dignitaries along with him (mostly free of cost) before leaving Pakistan to settle in London. These gifts include dozens of boxes of jewellery, necklaces, pearls, diamonds, four American revolvers, Rolex watches, gold, earrings and rings.
If this was the mindset of the two top rulers of the country for half a decade, if not more, one can well imagine as to how much role this mindset of personal interests must have played in dealing with national affairs and decision making. But, these two rulers are not the only ones to be blamed. I am certain if The News chooses to continue its investigation, it will find all of our rulers not only at federal level but also at the provincial, divisional and district level will be found involved in it. But, more surprising is the fact that none of the few honest people bring it out or as they call it in America blow the whistle.
The lacuna that the gifts can be purchased by the government officials at the market price is the root cause of this ill. The market price is to be determined by the subordinate officials who certainly will not like to displease their departing bosses. It's a matter of give and take. It's common knowledge that in all other public auctions, it is clearly stated that the government officials and even their relatives can not participate in the bidding. Why this exception has been made in case of state gifts is an open question?
Labels: Corruption, Governance, Leadership, Moral Values
posted @ 9:22 PM,
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According to The News International, Pakistan, Friday, July 03, 2009
Former prime minister and billionaire, Shaukat Aziz, had taken 736 gifts worth with him on his last bye-bye Pakistan flight to London. The state booty included half a dozen more necklaces, 18 kt gold, gold coins, pearls, crowns, diamonds, Rolex watches, bracelets, carpets, Chinese pandas (presumably figurines because the list does not elaborate) etc after getting them massively undervalued by the obliging Cabinet Division evaluators by paying only token money. One sources said, the total value of these 736 gifts, whose total price keeping the importance of those gifts given by the heads of foreign countries in the open market view, would easily be over Rs100 million, but it was priced at Rs25 million so that one of the richest prime ministers of our history with Rs7 billion declared assets with Election Commission of Pakistan could retain them free of cost.
This is the true state of affairs of our worthy rulers. Needless to say that if cases of other rulers are investigated, the story is least likelt to be any different. It's not a question of a few million rupees but that of the mindset and the ethics. Will the present government take measures to prevent the repitition of such like swindling?
Labels: Corruption, Ethics, Governance, Leadership, Moral Values, Shaukat Aziz
posted @ 12:35 PM,
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According to The News International, Pakistan, Thursday, July 02, 2009
The usually soft-spoken Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani minced no words on Wednesday when he promised dire consequences for senior bureaucrats approaching parliamentarians and ministers for seeking favours in service-related matters.
He was speaking at the outset of the first cabinet meeting after the passage of the budget.It was an interesting reversal of priorities considering that only a few days back on June 27, The News had run a story about instances when the prime minister’s office was itself found involved in forwarding such recommendations based on the request of parliamentarians
Our worthy Prime Minister thinks that he can enforce discipline, good governance, honesty and other such like good values upon the bureaucrats without personally following these values.Otherwise, how else can the PM justify the recent appointment of a grade 20 DMG officer as ambassador to Paris. A few months ago, the worthy PM appearing in a TV program had promised that in future he would adhere to merit while making appointments. Where is that promise?
Labels: Governance, Leadership, Merit, Politicisation of Bureaucracy
posted @ 11:08 AM,
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According to The News International, Pakistan, Thursday, July 02, 2009,
Rather unexpectedly, the prime minister has announced a doubling in the annual development fund for the 342 members of the National Assembly, raising the amount to Rs20 million for each fiscal year. It is not clear if the benefit will be extended also to the 100 members of the Senate, who, till now, had been on par with the legislators in the lower house. But even if this does not happen, it is quite obvious that there will be a considerable new drain on the exchequer as a result of the decision. Oddly enough, no mention of it had been made in the budget and the prime minister's announcement came as the budget session concluded.
Where from are the funds going to come if the same is not the part of the budget? Aren't our worthy MNAs supposed to legislate in stead of initiating development projects in their constituencies. This has been done to political bribe our MNAs. This will provide them a political clout and also an opportunity for misuse of funds. If the worthy PM thinks that MNAs ar better suited for the local development projects then he should dole out all the funds allocated for local development.
Labels: Development, Governance, Political Bribery
posted @ 12:41 AM,
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Political governments come and go. The government officials whose hierarchy is known as bureaucrats stay on. The postings, transfers and placement of bureaucrats are done according to well laid out rules and regulations. These appointments are supposed to be apolitical. However, now,that is not the case. The worthy Prime Minister who was earlier charged for unfairly employing people, when he was Speaker National Assembly, continues to do so, rather more blodly, as this times he is occupying a higher pedestal. The News International writes,
The bureaucracy is faced with such a sorry state of affairs that the MPs and politicians are openly recommending the postings and transfers of their favourites. The dilemma is that the Prime Minister’s Secretariat is found generous in forwarding such recommendations, which are illegal under the rules, to the Establishment Division and other concerned agencies for implementation. It is the consequence of such whimsical appointments that the Foreign Service of Pakistan has simply gone mad over the appointment of a grade-20 DMG officer as ambassador to Paris. In their petition, they said that the appointment of Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, DMG Officer of 1987 batch, as ambassador of Pakistan to France, is unprecedented, demoralising and most importantly a violation of the rights of the FSP officers.
His appointment is extraordinary for the reason that Imam has been made inspector general of Islamabad though he has not served as deputy inspector general (DIG) or regional police officer (RPO) even for a single day. After being transferred to his present position, he has become the youngest ever IG Police in the history of Pakistan.
The politicisation of the bureaucracy is distorting the very structure of this institution. It will be incorrect to say that our 'innocent' rulers are ignorant about the rules and regulations. It's all sheer misuse of one's authority and nepotism about which we hear long lectures and sermons but no deeds, rather what we see are the misdeeds.
Labels: Governance, Nepotism, Politicisation of Bureaucracy
posted @ 2:00 PM,
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