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Saturday May 04, 2024

How to get rid of corruption?

Getting rid of corruption isn’t like catching hold of an innocent poor boy and beat him right and left for flying a kite on the corner of a street inhabited by some well-to-do families. City olds say one has to be lawful while nabbing any citizen, upper or low, on

By Zafar Alam Sarwar
April 14, 2015
Getting rid of corruption isn’t like catching hold of an innocent poor boy and beat him right and left for flying a kite on the corner of a street inhabited by some well-to-do families. City olds say one has to be lawful while nabbing any citizen, upper or low, on corruption charge and deal with the accused according to the demand of the law of the land and justice — not any influential backer.
Corruption penetrated deep into our society long ago: God-fearing heads of government made determined effort to eliminate corrupt elements from all walks of life as demanded by common people eventually affected socially and economically by the menace. Did they all succeed 100 per cent in the noble task and deliver what the ordinary man expected them to?
The latest attempt is being made by the Islamabad Traffic Police in what the law abiding citizens will say in the national interest. At a ceremony held the other day, Senior Superintendent of Police Malik Matloob promised to cooperate wholeheartedly with other law enforcement agencies, especially the National Accountability Bureau, in that direction to subdue the socio-economic evil.
Feeling proud of spearheading the so-called corruption-free force, he asserted the performance of the force to date has professionally become a role model for other organisations. If really so, the victims of corruption may not take long time to believe the force is people-friendly crusading against corruption.
How to convince the masses of the value of being honest to oneself and others? That’s the question of utmost significance as is emboldening the poor and weak to condemn corruption.
The ITP will now issue new driving licences printed with the new slogan ‘Say No to Corruption’. The downtrodden say: “God bless you, police! We’re with you.”
The traffic police and the accountability bureau have joined hands against corruption: the hope is that together they’ll change the world of the exploited citizen, and poverty will turn into prosperity.
By the way, we all need to remember what the architect of Pakistan had said about corruption, and how forcefully suggested measures to get rid of the menace in order to save common people from poverty and starvation. He considered hoarding, black-marketing and exploitation as evils.
zasarwar@hotmail.com