In our society, corruption is so deep-rooted and widespread that we cannot put that down without bringing about a complete change of the system of governance and societal transformation of values. DR OWAIS FAROOQUI, president, FOCUS PAKISTAN

FOCUS PAKISTAN conducted an eclectic seminar on the topic of ‘ Corruption and Punishment’. The upshot of the seminar was that corruption should not be tolerated at any level of civil society and of the state and that the proven corrupt should be swiftly condemned and punished. Among the panelists were QUDRAT ULLAH Ch, Professor EHSAN AKHTER NAZ, Dr NELOFER MEHDI, ABID HASSAN MINTO, MR ASLAM Ch former Advisor chairman NAB, ALAMA SAEED AZHAR and MUHAMMAD RIAZ former consultant NAB.

The participants of the seminar emphasized that the rampant corruption in society is eroding the foundations of society such that the country is facing complete destruction. Corrupt practices are no longer restricted to to the domains of bureaucracy, banking and fiscal spheres, the malaise has seeped to the core of the political system and elected representatives. Intellectual circles and sections of the media are tainted. Even clergy are entirely immune from corruption as some eagerly seek spoils of the political war game at the cost of principles and integrity. Dr Owais Farooqui, chairman Focus Pakistan opined that corruption cannot be put down without a change of political set up and a concerted action by civil society. A society based on feudalism and vulgar deference to wealth and political power only promotes corrupt practices and unabashed pursuit of wealth and political leverage by fair means or foul.

Well known journalist Qudratullah Chaudhry said that an unhindered use of authority without accountability facilitates corruption, excesses and irregularities of all kind and variety. As rightly emphasized corruption cannot be controlled unless the system is transformed and such a transformation cannot be brought about unless the citizens make sure that only sincere, honest and hard working persons are elected who are committed to implementing change.

Dr Nelofar Mehdi made a pointed case for self-correction by each individual actor so a critical mass of the citizenry is formed who in turn would act as a catalyst for change and would provide a bulwark against corruption in society and the government.

Former consultant to NAB, Aslam Chaudhry said that clearly the official corruption is on the record of all previous and present regimes but sadly no one except the judiciary and a section of the media gives this issue a priority. Important and loud cases of corruption remain dormant in files and exemplary punishments are simply evaded even against the proven corrupt. Former Advisor NAB, Riaz Majeed more or less made the same point. The upshot of the argument of the former NAB officials was that No punishment, no deterrence.

Alama Saeed Azhar in his literary presentation appealed that all of us in whatever field of life we may belong, must do a self critique and change our own attitude to corruption so that we as individuals and as society have zero tolerance for any corruption, financial, political, intellectual, religious or social kind and put up a determined fight against corruption and for an appropriate and swift punishment.

The eminent jurist Abid Hassan Minto in his moderating address termed it a great tragedy that corrupt individuals do not face the adverse consequences of corruption as they continue to be well received in our society on the steam of vulgar display of wrongfully acquired wealth, feudal lineage, bureaucratic status or political connection. He was in grief citing among a host of prominent examples, the removal of a parliamentarian by an act of judiciary, found guilty of fraud and forgery and then promptly reelected with an active support of the party and unseemly campaigning by the prime minister himself.

The seminar participants and the moderators all were unanimous in their view that an urgent focus is required on the issue of corruption and punishment. To this end the need of the time is to organize a vigorous social mobilization in the form of a Movement by the civil society against corruption.