Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Law abiding India: Lessons for Pakistan

The News, May 31, 2006
Law-abiding India: model for Pakistan to follow
By Rauf Klasra

ISLAMABAD: Members of the Subcommittee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) observed here on Tuesday that Pakistanis should at least learn some good lessons from the Indians as how to respect the law, where even a chief minister cannot dare violate an order issued by an ordinary city mayor of his province.

“The Indians are becoming a big democratic nation because they respect the law,” observed the PAC members while lamenting over sorry attitude of both the masses and civil, military bureaucracy to violate the laws without any fear.

The PAC members also conceded that in the past they had failed to hold powerful officials accountable during scrutiny of audit objections despite the fact they were present in the committee meeting.

The subcommittee met here with MNA Kunwar Khalid Younis in the chair, Ch Nisar Ali Khan and Rai Mansab Ali Khan as members to discuss audit objection regarding the Pakistan Post Office. Secretary Communication Tariq Mahmood and officials of the Auditor-General of Pakistan also appeared before the committee to discuss the irregularities in the working of the ministry.

During course of discussion on alleged corruption committed by the former director-general of Pakistan Post Office, Agha Masood, a retired military officer, Nisar said the PAC has failed to hold such powerful officials accountable despite knowing that they were involved in the irregularities.

Younis was of the view that Pakistanis needed to learn lessons from the Indians who were much better in following the law. While giving indirect reference to Pakistan policy to match the that of the Indians, Younis said Pakistan also needs to match India in good qualities, particularly democracy and respect for the laws.

To establish his point, he said that recently he was in India and a Congress chief minister of one state hosted a dinner in honour of Pakistani delegation.He said music stopped at 10.30pm. When inquired about the abrupt end to the music, they were surprised to know that under the laws no party could be held after 10.30pm.

Younis said it was quite shocking to know that the order to end party by that time was issued by a local mayor and the chief minister abide by the orders without making it an issue of ego. He said visiting Pakistanis were informed that mayor who had issued the order belonged to opposition party BJP.

Younis said it was fascinating for the Pakistanis to see a chief minister of India respecting the order of a mayor. He said no body dare to violate the law in India not even the chief minister. But, he regretted that in Pakistan no such precedent exists and they all need to learn lessons from the Indians. Respect for the law makes Indians more powerful nation.

Nisar said politicians were accountable to the media and general public but other segments of society particularly the civil, military bureaucracy was not held accountable for their misdeeds. He said federal secretaries were not held accountable while ministers always faced criticism. He regretted that after 15 years down the lane, the PAC now was discussing some audit objections pertaining to irregularities in the Pakistan Post Office. He said when the sitting DG Post Office Agha Masood had once appeared before the committee, the members remained silent and could not collect the moral courage to question him.

He said the Post Office was being run on personal whims of an individual but nobody could dare ask the DG during the meeting. He said even the Ministry of Communication and the Post Office were at logger heads because of the working of the DG. Younis said it was quite unfortunate to note that a culture was developing in Pakistan in which no one showed respect to rules and regulations.

1 comment:

Organic Argan Oil Benefits Hair, Face said...

Still a long way to go...but I find it (India example) interesting. :-D

But really the best thing I like is the way politicians follow the diktat of the Election Commission.

In the city I work and live now (Chennai, India) all year round one will find public walls plastered with political solgans.

But come election everything has to be white washed and this is followed down to the T.