APROPOS ‘Sindh’s institutional decay’ (June 26). It is an open secret that the institutional decay is pervasive in Pakistan in general and Sindh in particular. Fareed Zakaria’s definition of illiberal democracy fits the bill. In this case it is a plutocracy barely masquerading as democracy in Sindh’s provincial government. A concerted attempt has been made by successive provincial governments to rule by fiat at the cost of strong institutions.

The province in general and Karachi in particular have been rapaciously looted and misgoverned leaving problems like town planning, water and sanitation, urban housing, environmental degradation, illegal settlements, and encroachment of amenity/green belts, and ruthless extortion unaddressed.

Sindh’s institutional decay is a sad commentary on the province’s administration that is no more amenable to anodyne palliatives unless people take up the cudgels on behalf of institution building and rule of law.

This would take a long-haul effort as there is no short-cut to fundamental reforms and long-term institution building. The present Rangers-led crusade is just a signpost to the tough, slow and painstaking institution-building effort.

Brig(r) Raashid Wali Janjua

Rawalpindi

(2)

APROPOS Imtiaz Bhatti’s blog entitled, ‘Sindh’s institutional decay’ (June 26). The writer has hit the nail right on its head by suggesting a comprehensive reform in the civil service.

However, I will go a little further and suggest that this scourge of ‘institutional decay’ can be remedied, concomitantly, by instituting a fair and universal land reform package. This is only possible by giving a strong mandate to an elected and democratic political leadership in future.

Let this process begin immediately with the next general election. All eligible Pakistani voters, therefore, must aim for a house that is made up of strong and highly motivated reform-minded representatives in the next elections.

Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Quebec, Canada

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play