Who is indefatigable Mian?

The prefix in my name also happens to be Mian though the prominent Mians (if ‘Mians’ can be allowed as plural of Mian) these days are Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif.

Finding no other precedent to quote except that I’ve been a schoolfellow of Mian Shahbaz Sharif for nine, ten formative years of my life, I’d been consoling myself by saying to myself in my heart that I am more indefatigable and workaholic than any PM or CM including the incumbent ones. Rather, for years and years together, I had been taking pride in my indefatigability and workaholic style. But, now I think that I’m number two or three in this order as proven by the message that I got from the Punjab CM the other day after 4 am close to the morning. I simply wanted some crucial hint direct from the provincial chief executive to file a story on corruption by some biggies. Earlier that day, the CM had publicly declared during the Land Record Computerization ceremony at Aiwane Iqbal that the government possessed clear proofs of hanky panky done by some black sheep in other tenures.

It didn’t come as a surprise to me that people with big names and big games engage themselves in corrupt practices from time and time and still remain scot-free. It was in the same context that Chief Minister Shahbaz asked NAB as to why it ignored the almost one billion corruption committed in the same project i.e Land Record Computerization project undertaken during the government of his predecessor in Punjab.

The question is really valid and calls for action without giving it a second thought. NAB Chairman, Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, whose humble posture is a reflection of his inner clarity and commitment (I’ve met him and found him a thorough gentleman), must proceed as per Shahbaz Sharif’s advice. The Punjab CM says he has extended maximum cooperation to NAB and would always welcome action against the corrupt elements as he himself was committed to a transparent, honest system of governance. Not a single penny of corruption can be proved against him, says Shahbaz with confidence and authenticity. There is no reason to show skepticism about this claim because ‘where there is passion and commitment, the greed loses lustre and lure (read glamorous lure)’.

At least the things appear to be quite transparent in the Land Record Computerization which, as claimed by Punjab government or its Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, has stopped institution of five million cases of land-specific litigation. I think if this project proceeds with the same pace and ‘Neeat’ (good, sincere intentions), it can assuage decades’ old tensions and strife caused by fake furds (documents of ownership from Record of Rights) and other such documents issued by ‘motivated’ and greed-driven’ Patwaris (not all are so) for a big price (read bribe) that goes to hundreds of thousands of rupees in many cases.

I’ve been doing practical farming for one-and-a-half decade close to Raiwind Lahore till my family sold the land that now falls in the Jati Umra Estate. As a farmer, I have seen the filling and erasing of Patwaris’ Roznamchas, Masaawis and tampering in Record of Rights (Register Huqdaran) and likewise, allocation of canal water to the undeserving but influential and wealthy agriculturists. If things go transparent the way the Punjab government claims, it will be a massive change for the better in the farming community’s lives that will start living anew with peace of mind and trust in their destiny.

It won’t be out of place to mention the miseries of small plots’ owners in Ali Town, Raiwind Road, Lahore from where the coveted Orange Line Train will be taking the start after completion. The plot-owners say that an ominous number 173 i.e Khasra number 173 has made their lives hell and made them dependent on the whims of Patwaris and other revenue seniors. These officials frighten the plot-owners with jugglery of discouraging words and figures and extort sizeable money from them in illegal gratification. The ownership of the one paying the bribe is ‘safe’ whereas all other owners are declared to fall in the ‘unsafe category’. I’m sure the CM, the SMBR Punjab and other bigwigs in the government will take notice of this serious anomaly and peace-destroying lacuna in a locality of the provincial metropolis that is looked after directly by the passionate and committed Shahbaz Sharif.   —mianrehman1@gmail.com