Muhammad Daheem

The performance of the PPPP-led coalition government's five-year tenure, over on March 15, 2013, was not merely very poor but disgusting too. This government had been riddled with corruption. According to Transparency International, "Pakistan had lost more than Rs 8.5 trillion in corruption, tax evasion and bad governance during first four years tenure of Gilani's regime." Corruption, in almost all the federal institutions, remained the talk of the town. Its practice continued in spite of strong resistance and scrutiny by the Supreme Court, media and general public. The forces of darkness continued to plunder the nation for full 5 years till last moment. Naturally, it shoved the nation on the verge of disaster. The national exchequer was plundered with both hands and corruption became the lifeblood and lifestyle of the rulers. Corruption culture flourished throughout the country. Local and foreign investors lost much interest in Pakistan.

According to Director General (NAB) "oil mafia, agriculture cartel and tax evasion or theft contributed to a daily loss of Rs 5 billion, which meant Rs 150 billion in one month and Rs 1,800 billion a year." Several institutions, just like PIA, Pakistan Steel Mill and Railway, were plundered in the day light. Several government employees and "saints" were found involved in Hajj scheme scam etc.

Several projects such as power project were made to plunder the national exchequer. Raja Perveiz Ashraf, the former prime minister, was found involved in several scams and scandals. The Supreme Court warned NAB several times to probe the cases in a fair manner. It is generally believed that the government completed full five years at the cost of country's stake.

Right from the beginning to the end (A to Z) the economy was mismanaged. It was the major setback for the country. There was huge increase in the price of the common commodities within a span of 5 years. The common people, already living from hand to mouth, were the major victims of the hiking prices of the commodities. The government failed to halt the sharp increase in consumer prices. The circular debt escalated from Rs 326 billion to Rs 872 billion just within a span of five-year.

The traders' opinion, in general, is that federal government fulfilled no promise it had made to the masses in its election manifesto. The economy shattered, even tattered and situation turned from bad to worse. Majority of analysts say that "it was the worst-ever era in view of economy". The foreign debt escalated by over 100 percent during last five years.

The country is passing through a critical phase because of the deteriorating state of the economy due to corruption based policies of the government during the last 5 years.

Hollow slogans were raised and practically the country was plundered by evil forces. The federal government failed to deliver reasonable jobs to the youth and food & shelter to the poor. It will take a long, long time for the new government for the survival of the economy.

The domestic debt increased from Rs 6 trillion to Rs 13 trillion in last five years. The rising inflation reduced the purchasing power of the common man. It had a bad impact on the economy of the nation. The debt increased from $45 billion in 2008 to over $65 billion in 2012. Pakistan, at the moment, is under the $14.8 trillion debt. The nations' foreign reserves had been reduced to about $ 12 billion.

The average GDP growth rate is not more than 3 to 4 per cent. The Rupee has depreciated from 61 rupees to a dollar to almost 100 rupees recently. Inflation runs high and several essential commodities are almost out of reach of the common man. The commerce could not flourish and the private sector could not create enough jobs for the new generation.

The government failed to extend reasonable tax circle and boost tax revenue, particularly imposition of tax on agricultural income. Instead of penalizing tax holders and their accomplices, the government made "amnesty scheme" to boost tax revenue. It was highly criticized by the media. Pakistan, according to Telegraph, has one of the smallest tax bases in the world and two-thirds of its politicians pay no income tax at all...

Law and order situation deteriorated. The country remained in the tight grip of violence and target killing. Theft, robbery and murder became the norm of daily life. Several armed gangs, in Karachi, made show of power and received money from the public during PPPP-led coalition rule. Suicide attacks increased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The land grabbing mafia had its control in Punjab. The situation remained grim in Balochistan. The State resources were plundered ruthlessly. The government seized the rights of the poor to feed the elite class and corrupt politicians.

The energy sector was ignored completely and the government did not bother much about alternative resources. The government failed to tackle with power and gas shortage issue. Long scheduled and unscheduled power load shedding and gas suspension reduced the industrial production and agriculture growth to a great extent. The economic growth could not exceed 4 percent. Petroleum, oil and lubricants products' prices went up 70-160 percent during the past five years while prices in the global market did not rise more than 3.29 percent.

The energy crisis and alarming level of insecurity are the major causes of low level investment. The power tariff had risen from 40 to 95 percent during PPPP-led coalition government.

Unfortunately agriculture and industrial activities deteriorated immensely due to inconsistent supply of natural gas and electricity. Industry could not flourish due to corruption and mismanagement. Pakistan lost several markets due to high production of cost. Several Pakistani items could not be presented in the world market due to high competition.

The government could not control gas theft. The rate of gas was enhanced by up to 60 per cent. Inflation increased about 15% in the last five years and "the consumer price index increased from about 100 points to about 173 points."
The Memogate scandal exposed a high scandal and dealings between the then Pakistani ambassador Haqqani and US Admiral Mullen via a third person. It damaged relations between the Pakistani military and the civil government.

Several analysts conclude that Benazir Income Support Programme was riddled with "rampant corruption, nepotism and embezzlement". The opponents believe that this programme was nothing more than a scam to "buy votes". The party also lavished more than $1 billion through this scheme. The very name of the programme shows it is a political stunt. The opponents of this programme say that it is, in fact, re-election campaign of the people's party funded partly by Britain's Department for International Development (DFID). Obviously it seems that "money comes from the Bhutto family rather than the government". According to a leading economist, the Benazir Income Support Programme was being used to buy support for Mrs Bhutto's widower, President Asif Ali Zardari, and his party." Several British taxpayers' are complaining that their money is being used for re-election campaign of Benazir Bhutto's former party. International aid, according to Imran Khan, is propping up corruption in Pakistan.

The then Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, was disqualified for resisting openly and boldly SC's orders to write a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen a graft case against the president. His successor, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf AKA Raja Rental, more cunning then his predecessor, plundered the national wealth in no time. His involvement in the rental power project was confirmed.
Unfortunately nobody had the courage to arrest him, though the apex court had already given orders for his arrest.

All the great institutions, organizations have been plundered by this government. Nepotism, corruption, poverty, unemployment and load-shedding are the great gifts of this government.

PIA, railways and Steel Mills and several other institutions and organizations were plagued with nepotism and corruption. These institutions are now under the burden of millions of rupees' debt. Corruption became the hallmark of the PPPP-led coalition government.

The government did not bother much about environmental protection, youth employment, lowering inflation, quality education and clean potable water and making Pakistan a business friendly country and good governance region. Unnecessary loans, particularly from IMF, increased the burden of debts. The government remained in the clutches of IMF.

America trespassed onto Pakistan's sovereignty and shook it time and again to check Pakistan's military potential during the last five years. Moreover, drone attacks tainted the sovereignty of Pakistan. The Raymond Davis case, Salalah attack and the Memogate scandal are proofs of American interference in the affairs of Pakistan during PPP regime.

The performance of PPPP- led government in office is almost negligible. The government remained involved in several scandals throughout its tenure even up to the last moment.

Massive corruption had been done in different institution such as National Highway Authority, Oil and Gas Development Corporation Limited, Sui Southern Gas Pipelines Limited, Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited, Karachi Port Trust, Port Qasim Authority, Civil Aviation Authority, NICL, Pepco, Erra, SVBP, NBP, ZTBL, CDA, Ministry of Defence, Defence Housing Authority, National Logistics Cell, PSO, PNSC, Cantonment Boards, etc. All these institutions, organizations and departments had been burdened with politically enrolled employees.

For the personal gains, Military and Judiciary were blackmailed and used frequently. The Supreme Court is fighting against corruption but this government, instead of supporting the apex court, violated the apex court's orders, and tried its best to let the judiciary down. It applied every possible method to avoid any fair investigation and prosecution in corruption cases. Corruption was life and soul of this government.

The government tried its best to defame the military, judiciary and other strong institutions. The PPPP-led government tried to "bring the Supreme Court and "parliament at loggerheads by conducting the audit of the Supreme Court funds and undermine the independence of the judiciary by summoning the registrar of the apex court before the Public Accounts Committee."

The PPPP-led coalition government is over. It has little to brag about. It is no more in the field to pressurize or blackmail the heads of national institutions. The people are now expecting from the apex court to play its role and "order a complete audit of all the public corporations and Government Departments and purge these institutions from corruption." All the political appointments, promotions, highly controversial projects and schemes, illegal allotments of lands etc. should be immediately cancelled.

The corrupt leaders, who plundered the national exchequer and national resources, should be dealt with the iron hand. The five years of People's Party government were just like a horrible dream. It was a period of disappointment and frustration for the masses. It is high time names of all the corrupt leaders of dubious characteristics be placed on exit control list.

It is obvious that PPPP is deeply unpopular in urban areas, though "feudal landlords" still have their influence and strong hold in rural Sindh. The PPPP still has electoral strength in several parts of rural Sindh. The track record of Zardari shows that he is a "ruthlessly pragmatic politician." He can probably go to any extent to keep People's Party in power.

Democracy is a meaningless shadow without accountability. All the corrupt politicians should be brought to book for their evil deeds.


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