Not so corrupt?

FIRST the good news. Going by the latest Corruption Perception Index compiled by Transparency International, as many as 39 countries are now more corrupt than Pakistan. Of the 180 surveyed, Pakistan is listed at 138 along with the likes of Cameroon, Ethiopia and Paraguay. This is an improvement over previous years, though it is difficult to make comparisons given that the number of countries surveyed has increased significantly. Perhaps a more accurate gauge is the CPI score itself — 2.4 in 2007, 2.2 in 2006 and 2.1 in 2005. According to Transparency International, the ‘CPI score relates to perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by business people and country analysts, and ranges between 10 (highly clean) and 0 (highly corrupt)’. The key word here is ‘perceptions’. The index is not based on cold statistics and indeed never can be, for corruption is naturally not subject to record-keeping. With the rating based not on facts but something so subjective as someone’s reading of a situation, it can never be said with certainty whether corruption is more rife or less prevalent. For instance, the perception could become more favourable simply if corruption is practised with greater sophistication by officials whose outer crust makes them look more respectable than their predecessors. As such, perception alone does not necessarily mean that corruption, with all its accompanying socio-economic ills, is on the wane. In Pakistan, the social sectors in particular have suffered greatly over the years with the money earmarked for development routinely failing to reach those who need it the most.

Transparency in government procurement carries significant weight in the CPI. Here, Transparency International has reportedly noted the fact that purchases by Pakistan’s defence ministry have been exempted from the Public Procurement Regulatory Rules, which were framed in 2004 to comply with WTO conditions that stipulate transparency in government procurement. Besides the armed forces, Pakistan International Airlines Corporation, civil aviation, the defence housing authorities and a number of other institutions also come under the defence ministry. Total annual procurement under the defence ministry head is in the region of Rs200bn, according to one rough estimate. If there is nothing to hide, there should be no reason whatsoever for this blanket exemption from procurement rules. Security concerns cannot be used as a justification in the case of the armed forces, for the procurement of sophisticated weaponry has historically been flaunted rather than concealed.

Without suggesting any corruption in the armed forces, in the spirit of openness the annual defence budget ought to be presented with a detailed breakdown of expenditure, as opposed to the staggering lump-sum allocation currently shown on the books. There could be a small allowance for undisclosed intelligence and other sensitive operations, but the remainder that is the bulk of the defence budget must be open to scrutiny. The public perception, at least, would improve.

Myanmar on fire again

WHAT started off last month as a series of small protests in different Myanmar towns, including the capital Yangon, over a sharp hike in fuel prices, is fast escalating into a movement against the military dictatorship which has held power since 1962. After going slow because of the involvement of tens of thousands of Buddhist monks, held in high esteem in the country, the security forces have launched a massive crackdown. The numbers are still not clear, but it is believed that at least six monasteries were raided and hundreds of monks taken into custody. Angered by the treatment of the monks, and propelled by their own miseries of living in a garrison state where poverty is rife and income disparities between the ruling elite and ordinary citizens great, people are now demonstrating in their thousands. While so far the number of protesters killed by government troops is believed to be small, memories of the 1988 democracy movement, in which at least 3,000 people died, have been rekindled. The leader of that movement, Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, is under house arrest. While it is not yet known what her role in the current crisis will be, the security presence around her home has been reinforced and protesting monks have filed past her gate in a show of support. Are the Burmese people ready to see their efforts for democracy reach a fruitful conclusion this time — especially since their massive vote for Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy went unrecognised in 1990? Or will the movement fizzle out after another ruthless military crackdown?

The answer to this lies partly in the stance of Russia, China and India, which have considerable energy interests in Myanmar. In January, this year, both Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning Myanmar’s human rights record. India, too, has chosen to go soft on the military dictatorship. Recently, it signed gas contracts with the Myanmar junta as thousands protested in Yangon. A change is also needed in the outlook of Asean, the 10-member bloc of Southeast Asian countries which includes Myanmar. Asean may refrain from intervening in the internal politics of other members, but surely it could take greater cognisance of the extremely undemocratic credentials of Myanmar’s military leaders who have perpetuated a reign of tyranny and repression in their country. Unless these states step up their criticism of Myanmar’s leadership, call for democratic reforms, and substantially reduce their trade ties and investments in the country, it will be difficult for the people there to effect a revolution on their own. One hopes that the aspirations of the people will be allowed to take precedence over economic interests.

Importance of being earnest

THE Chief Justice has broken his silence at long last. This is how the opposition members would like to term his order passed yesterday, directing the authorities to immediately release all political leaders detained by the government over the last few days. The suo motu action comes on the heels of the wide-scale arrests made of opposition leaders by the Punjab and Islamabad police. The court also took notice of the road blocks erected by the government in Rawalpindi and Islamabad to prevent opposition leaders from converging on the election commissioner’s office where candidates for the presidential election filed their papers on Thursday. However, given Nawaz Sharif’s expulsion from the country on September 10, in violation of the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling on the PML-N leader’s right to return to Pakistan, concerns remain as to the authorities’ compliance with the latest court order. The cynicism found in government and opposition circles alike on the matter is well founded. In a country with a history of arbitrary sackings of judges and arrests of opposition leaders, nothing is beyond the realm of the possible.

The top judge should be commended for taking his considered time in coming to the rescue of those detained by the government. Any action taken earlier on his part could have been construed as his backing for the opposition. The Chief Justice also did the right thing by abstaining from the nine-member bench adjudging the eligibility of General Musharraf’s candidature as president. In the days ahead it is important that such high principles expected of the office of the judiciary’s chief continue to guide his decisions. The government must also show by its actions that it will abide by all higher court decisions and not repeat the mindless disdain it showed to the apex court’s ruling on September 10.

Final divine revelation

THERE has been a common perception among the adherents of other faiths that the Holy Quran is merely a book of rituals for Muslims, seemingly due to some mis-persuasions, misconceptions or misconstructions.

The Glorious Quran, the last of the four revealed books –– the other three being: Zaboor (Psalms to David), Taurat (Torah to Moses) and Injil (Bible to Jesus) –– is the most sacred and noble Divine revelation and that too not for any particular period, place and people but for all times and for all humanity. It is eternal and will never be out of date.

The Holy Quran does not simply address to the Muslims as “O ye who believe!” rather at numerous places it also addresses as “O ye people!” i.e. to the totality of mankind, which in unequivocal words convey the message of human fraternity in its fullest form as well as equality in social norms, encompassing the whole human race without any discrimination on the basis of cast and creed, land, language and clan and colour.

The oneness of the humanity is eloquently expressed in the Holy Quran in these words, “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other …” (49:13) and “Mankind was one single nation, …” (2:213).

Nations and tribes are constituted by individuals, and individuals on one hand constitute families and on the other human societies, interrelated and interlinked. In the families and societies, certain people deserve some status or place on account of their obligations or relationship, whereas others deserve some considerations on the ground of their peculiar conditions or circumstances.

To substantiate the above, a few verses from the Holy Quran are quoted. “… Treat with kindness your parents and kindred, and orphans and those in need; …” (2:83). In another verse the divine commandment is thus: “… And good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the way-farer (ye meet) and what your right hands possess: …” (4:36).

In both of the verses, orphans are placed just after parents and near relatives. It vividly manifests how much significance is attached to them. Their care is the responsibility of society, a universal norm irrespective of any discrimination. Likewise is the case of ‘those in need’. None can deny even today that those who are in need of some sort of genuine help deserve full support of society.

In the above verse, the others who have been mentioned are the neighbours, both near or strangers, the companion, the way-farer and the slaves. The neighbours being close prove to be of help; according to ibn-Kathir they may either be Muslims, Jews or Christians. The companions or the friends play an important role in social life.

The divine proclamation about the way-farer reflects firstly dignity of man and secondly motivates the humanity to come forward to help the people who may either be travellers or strangers stranded on the way.

Then come slaves; slavery now is almost no more a problem but for very long it had been a blot on the social fabric. They were never treated as human beings and were deprived of all sorts of religious, moral, social and economical rights. Not only that but they were inhumanly treated, severely penalised, physically tortured and freely sold or purchased. It is Islam that called for getting them enfranchised and thus elevated their social status, a radical departure from the centuries old custom.

The Holy Quran further stresses, “… And that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour.” (17:23). With showing kindness, the Holy Quran also enjoins for financial help in these words, “…. To spend of your substance out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the way-farer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; …” (2:177).Here it will not be out of place to mention that the Holy Quran discourages prodigality, “… But squander not (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift.” (17:26). Further it enunciates that the midway is the best way, “Make not thy hand tied to thy neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach, so that thou become blameworthy and destitute.” (17:29).

Human society cannot claim to be fair unless there is justice. The Holy Quran candidly urges, “… And when ye judge between man and man, that ye judge with justice: …” (4:58); and further, “… Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: …” (4:135).

To create an ambience of peace and high morality, the Holy Quran speaks out, “… Whenever ye speak, speak justly, even if a near relative is concerned …” (6:152); and “… Speak fair to the people; …” (2:83).

The sanctity of human lives can well be judged from these words of the Holy Quran, “… that if any one slew a person … it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. ….” (5:35).

The Quranic teachings permeate even the mundane sectors of human society just to establish social order, mutual understanding and better relationship among the individuals.

The individual persons are liable to err or forget; the Holy Quran 1400 years ago explicitly emphasised to prepare written documents particularly for the transactions to be matured sometime in future: “… When ye deal with each other, in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time, reduce them in writing. ….” And not only that but one capable to write is also exhorted to write: “… Let a scribe write down faithfully as between the parties, let not the scribe refuse to write…” (2:282).

In other transactions the Holy Quran pronounces, “… Give measure and weight with (full) justice; …” (6:152). It further reiterated, “… Give just measure and weight, nor withhold from the people the things that are their due; …” (7:85) and again in verses 1 to 3 of Sura 83, “Woe to those that deal in fraud, those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, exact full measure, but when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due.” It also urges in Sura Rahman, verse 9: “So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance.”

Briefly, numerous Quranic injunctions lay stress on various societal norms to promote welfare and betterment of the humanity as a whole.

Pakistan’s predicament

Middle East Press: Khaleej Times

NEWS reports in the international press suggest…President Pervez Musharraf has all but missed the chance of restoring genuine democracy in the country. Despite Islamabad’s politically correct outlook, and war-on-terror compulsions that keep it on Washington’s right side, the general has taken one step too far…Therefore, the rhetoric will not sell any further…… now that Sharif is gone and the deal-talk with Benazir has seemingly tripped again, General Musharraf has quickly gone back to hardline ways traditionally attached with Pakistan’s powerful military.

The crackdown on opposition workers and threat of imposing emergency and delaying polls for another year are, in fact, clear signals that the only manoeuvring that will be tolerated is one that keeps the general at the top. And his promise (there have been previous ones) of finally quitting the army chief post once he is re-elected president also, if anything, betrays how the slightest slip will see him retaining all power whatever the cost.

It is unfortunate that at a time when Pakistan can act as the test case in the fight for … democracy in much of the Third World, one man’s desire to prolong his stay at the top of everything is threatening to bring much hard work to naught. And his advisors have helped him bolster his position well.

Nawaz Sharif is in virtual house arrest in Saudi Arabia, while Benazir Bhutto has had her credibility tarnished among opposition ranks for coming round to them only when her own personal quest for power has apparently hit a wall. But in playing poker, the centre resorts to dirty politics, which reflects poorly on itself and the country as a whole. General Musharraf is no friend of Pakistan’s if he lets this election go by without freedom and fairness. — (Sept 25)

Don’t be petty or stingy

Middle East Press: Haaretz

THE diplomatic activity surrounding the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week is bringing the peace conference in Washington another step closer. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declared that the conference is meant to support the ongoing talks between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. She said that the meeting is meant to further discussions on the “core issues” for a solution to the conflict…

…The majority of the Israeli public supports the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, on the basis of the Green Line, while exchanging territory for large settlement blocks in the West Bank that will be joined to Israel. This also needs to be the basis for the joint declaration of principles, including the formulas for the solution of the questions of Jerusalem, the refugees and the future security arrangements.

…it is important that the efforts to bolster Abbas and the moderates in the West Bank are also felt on the ground, not only heard in speeches and statements. The prime minister’s declaration during his speech last Thursday that “Abbas is a partner” was appropriate in both its setting and timing, and demonstrated Olmert’s commitment to the peace process.

But it does not fit well with the delays that the defence establishment is creating in lifting the roadblocks in the West Bank and in the removal of the illegal outposts. The government decision to release 91 Palestinian prisoners as a gesture for Ramadan was lacking in generosity, and talk about the deployment of Palestinian Authority policemen in Nablus seems to be pure mockery.

It is hard to see how these tiny steps will advance the declared aim — bolstering Abbas’ standing among the Palestinian public — if these are not felt by the people in the West Bank... — (Sept 25)