Rotten to the core
Friday, November 20, 2009
As if the news that we had dropped a further five places down the Transparency International corruption scale were not enough, there comes the (not unexpected) revelation of the writing off of billions of rupees as a consequence of the promulgation of the NRO. A report in this newspaper suggests that the figure could be as much as Rs1,000 billion, a number so incomprehensibly large that it beggars the imagination. The National Reconciliation Ordinance effectively cancelled the powers of the National Accountability Bureau (itself flawed and of doubtful provenance but something is better than nothing) and opened the gate for hundreds – perhaps several thousands – engaged in graft and corruption to walk away from their crimes. Those who did the walking were not the poor or needy; they were the rich and powerful, the movers and shakers at the top end of our society. In many cases there is powerful evidence of wrongdoing, much of it by politicians and the workers of political parties across the entire spectrum of our political entities and institutions. Whatever evidence there was has disappeared and will never be presented. A stratum of criminality at the heart of politics and governance once again escapes the rule of law.
The determination to resist any form of accountability is embedded at every level of governance and has become a defining national characteristic. Small wonder that the world sees us as something of a basket case, seemingly teetering on failed-statehood and forever in denial of our many flaws. They have only to read through the back issues of our newspapers for the last twenty years or so (which is as far back as archives go online) to see the rot at the core of the state, the venality that elsewhere would have brought down individuals if not entire governments. Unless and until there is a change in the culture of corruption we seem doomed to wallow very publicly in our own filth – and there is neither sign of nor incentive for change. Our rulers invest heavily in the status quo and perhaps have little real interest in educating or empowering the majority, because by doing so they may be in a position to challenge that artificial equilibrium. The iniquitous NRO was, according to some legal eagles, itself unconstitutional and discriminatory, a law applicable only to a tiny section of the population and not a law for all men and women everywhere. How many schools could have been built for Rs1,000 billion? Hospitals? Roads? Rural water supply systems? Vocational training centres? Until a majority decides to stand up and say ‘Enough’, NRO beneficiaries are going to be laughing as they dance towards their banks.
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Ticket to ride
Friday, November 20, 2009
The traffic wardens of Lahore have apparently decided to extend their remit to the fining of those unlucky road users who fail to respond appropriately to their politely worded request for a lift. It seems that the wardens do not have their own transport and that they often travel on public buses and vans, either granting themselves an exemption from paying the fare or being given a free ride in the hope of the friendly and terribly polite traffic warden turning a blind eye the next time the bus/van runs a red light. They also have taken to hitching a lift with motorcyclists travelling solo – which in all likelihood will give rise to a rash of dummy passengers on the backs of motorbikes in an effort to discourage traffic wardens from requesting – very politely – a lift. There are reports that not only is the obliging citizen required to carry the traffic warden who is a model of mannerly conduct, but even more helpfully to take the wardens who have chest-fulls of merit-badges awarded for civility to wherever it is that they want to go!
Levity aside there is a serious issue regarding security. There have been anecdotal reports in recent weeks of suicide bombers hijacking cars and then using them to deliver themselves to their targets. The bombers are reported to be wearing police uniforms and pretend to be seeking a lift. Many motorists give lifts to police who stand at the roadside as a matter of courtesy – but the terrorist is infinitely adaptable and it is no longer safe to assume that the person wearing the uniform is doing so legitimately. It is no great stretch of imagination to have a terrorist wear the uniform of a traffic warden. Whilst we might sympathise with the plight of the traffic wardens without their own transport; it does not give them licence to extort money via a fine for those who fail to accede to their requests for a lift. For the ordinary road user they have a right to determine who travels in their vehicle and its destination – and they have the right of refusal without penalty because they might find themselves the unwitting carrier of a cargo of death and destruction.
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Tying the knot
Friday, November 20, 2009
Marriage is big business. Across the country hundreds of ‘lawns’ and ‘marriage halls’ have sprung up over the last decade as brides, grooms and their respective families seek ever more lavish celebration of their nuptials. They are often built with scant attention to where those visiting and celebrating might park their cars or the noise that they generate into the wee hours and the effect it might have on those intent on a good night’s sleep. Given our national propensity for never being on time for anything if we can possibly help it, weddings have got later and later and halls and lawns are booking festivities at midnight and beyond.
Now the provincial government has stepped in to complicate things. To the considerable irritation of those in the marriage business, the Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution under which marriage ceremonies will not be allowed after 10 pm. Sindh is a bit more relaxed and allows ceremonies to take place up until midnight, and the hall and lawn owners say that Punjab should follow suit. The decision affects a range of peripheral businesses – decorators and caterers and the like – and is going to impact on about 400 marriage halls and lawns. The chances of it being effectively implemented or complied with by the wedding industry are roughly at par with a politician making and keeping a promise. With the wedding season now upon us this is perhaps not the best time to place limitations around a national obsession and we can but hope that the Punjab Assembly members have an outbreak of common sense. We still won’t get our sleep or find places to park our own vehicles, but the brides and grooms will be happy – which, when all is said and done, is what really matters.