Corruption is the global issue but in many countries it has been brought to the minimal, as complete eradication is a dream, and in some countries it has infested the whole society and is out of control as is the case of Pakistan. It s said democracy is the most powerful tool to reduce this menace .Empirical evidence substantiates this approach towards corruption. Strangely we all apply the word corruption only to money related matters. In fact it has extensive application as to include abuse of power ,  greed of power grabbing, denial of justice, mental and intellectual dishonesty ,fake accusations and aspersion and curbing freedom of expression.

It is ,however , a fact that corruption is seen mostly reduced  or in the process of reduction in the countries where democracy prevails .It does not mean that corruption is controlled the day democracy is introduced ,it takes time till democracy is consolidated which  needs  the democratic  process goes on unhindered for many terms. Real democracy not the sham one is the way to control corruption.

Once the democratic system strengthens, the institutions of the state get strong and are brought to their assigned jurisdiction then the process of reduction of corruption starts. To come to this stage democracy needs some time and only then this menace of corruption comes under control. It is undeniable that democracy is the best method to deal with not only the cancer of the corruption but also for  peace, progress ,political stability, economic, industrial and scientific development; It also gives way to social, religious harmony and  provincial cohesion. Though corruption has been also controlled in autocracies as China and Russia but this is another subject.

Corruption remains strident in sham and reigned democracies as we all are witness to it in Pakistan and elsewhere .it is imperative that state has the legitimate political system. This legitimacy is achieved by the participation of the entire nation with regular, free and fair elections that ensures  strong   institutions, within the framework of the constitution, to make sure they do not interfere  in the jurisdiction of other ones but remain as check on each other..

People must have the right not only to bring any party in power but also the right to vote out the governments. This is the factor that makes the politician fear punishment by the electorate at the time of election and they remain conscious about corruption and bad performance. The countries where rulers don’t have the fear of the public opinion are in shambles. Public in Pakistan  occasionally get  the right to vote  to bring  any political party in power, albeit with much background maneuverings for the desired party by the elite group, but often than not  governments are dismissed  not by the  public  in a democratic way, but by the power behind the scene.

This is true that a few times background engineering fails and a party or leadership popular with the public gets in that eventually is pushed out by the behind the curtain powers. Mostly the darling leadership comes in power which is provided full support saving from the opposition parties .Such so- called elected governments, seeking support of other groups and smaller parties, close their eyes to corruption being carried out by the allies. These situations give bureaucracy incentive to  corruption  as well. On the other hand   the governments of mainstream parties when dismissed , workers and leadership feel humiliated and angry that causes  political instability that  damages  economy  and the basic needs of the nation such as peace, progress, prosperity, justice and harmony remain just wild dream.

When elite group takes power in hand directly it needs support of political personalities, minions mostly, that are ready to sell their conscience. Leaders of mainstream parties are involved in fabricated charges of corruption and are either put in jails or harassed on one pretext or the other. Those who become obedient servants of the autocrat  get chance to mint money by any means as the authority, while giving sermons of transparency, adopts evasive attitude towards these conscienceless subservient.  Autocrat, having no roots in public needs support of bureaucracy and military as well which for rendering  services to the autocrat fill their pockets .The vicious cycle keeps moving damaging the interests of the country but autocrats keep harping that they are the Messiah of the country.

In such unrepresentative sort of government setups the general public has less influence on the political and bureaucratic rapport   that give way to lesser transparency and accountability across the board. While in representative political system the government ministers and officials feel the influence of the public opinion, expressed without any fear ,and thus they remain at their guard lest any corruption, poor policy issue may cost them bad name and be held accountable. In truly democratic political practices, public has more influence and their opinions are decisive,  the mechanism of the system harnesses corrupt practices by virtue of effective public power to punish the corrupt elements through the votes. Politicians and parties knowing that public is free and vocal they naturally remain on guard fearing repercussions. Universal suffrage, unhindered fair and free elections, develop public  mentally in their decision making to chose the representatives and hold them accountable. If the electorate is dissatisfied with the performance of governance or feel irresponsibility or corruption on the side of their elected representatives they pressurize them to mend their ways or  next time vote them out. With this prospect in view incumbents remain under pressure and on guard and try  their best for the satisfaction of public. Such a system that carries the weight of public opinion surely curbs the corrupt practices. Similarly the bureaucracy also remain cautious as their malpractices may be detected and they be punished by the government authorities who are also under public pressure.

General elections on regular basis consolidate the state institutions and democratic culture and public awakening, with consolidated democracy  the politicians get incentive to curtail their greed and irresponsibility towards public interests and tend to align their interests with the interests of the public. Regular elections also give wisdom to electorate in choosing their representatives on rational and analytical basis instead of running, often than not, after slogan mongers ad following the politicians on  the basis of sentimental attachments. Once the democratic system sets in then those political persons and parties that are opined  not giving promised and expected development are discredited in the elections. Such a political scenario of  competition enable the opposition parties  to act as a check not only on the government and bureaucracy rather on each other as well. Revelation of any corruption or wrong policy  cost heavily to the wrongdoer. Voice of opposition is not unheard of or avoided easily, public inquiries impair the reputation of the incumbent and lead to their dismissal.  Opposition parties, media and NGOs become vigilant and keep an eye on every step of the government officials and bureaucrats and any wrongdoing and ill performance is exposed to the public. The unfortunate trend of false accusations and aspersion prevailing in our politics would end with the democratic norms once established. Entire society will take notice of such allegations which filter through public opinion and analysis. Leveler of baseless and malevolent charges himself be debased. Regular free and fair elections make politicians accountable to the public as the continued democratic process  makes the politicians transform their behaviour and they become responsible and  corruption free, for the hanging sword of public reaction, likewise other institutions remain within their assigned jurisdiction. Presently  the situation of democracy and  the  concept of the authority of public opinion is dismal in Pakistan.

The POWER BEHID THE SCENE maneuver and engineer the so called elections, paving the way for the party and leaders in their good books and thwarting the ways of the party and leader target of their wrath. Their criterion is which one obediently follows their lines and dictations. Such a condition has made Pakistan a country afflicted with all sorts of internal and external problems .W have lost our voice at all fora  of the world because of our political instability and the economy that seeks the support of foreign loans all the time. We are lagging much behind the countries of the region. India is progressing  fast in every segment of life .It has a voice in the world despite its abuse of human rights of the minorities, its military occupation of a part of Kashmir and continuing inhuman atrocities.

Even Bangladesh is developing better than Pakistan. It may be recalled the elite group that was unhappy with the then East Pakistani democratic minded people, used to tell people of the then West Pakistan that East Pakistan is burden on the economy of Pakistan, if we get rid of  East Pakistan  the West Pakistan will flourish and the people here will be having much prosperity. Difference of the economies of these countries tells the story of the system of governance. Indian forex reserves are about 631.3 billion dollars, that of Bangladesh  about  44.4 billion dollars while that of Pakistan are about  21 billion dollars  and that  too including loans and aids.

Is it not the time for us all, including politicians, generals , judges,  media and saner elements to realize why we are in such a precarious conditions which does not seem to end in near future. The only reason of   progress of the countries in the region is representative democracy  and our retrogression is for absence of representative and consolidated  democracy. Their collective  wisdom governs  yielding positive healthy results and here whims and fancies of elite group works, the result of which is as should b They say politicians are corrupt and incompetent. Think for a moment, take a cursory look at our  history in whose regimes Pakistan underwent fatal damages —secession of East Pakistan, 65 war, Siachin Issue and Kargil adventure, plunging in Afghan quagmire. These all happened  in the undemocratic regimes none of a damage to such a scale   took place in the period of even the reigned-democratic governments .For the sake of Pakistan we have no way but to give up our vanity, stiff collars, self-assumed dutifulness and let the people of Pakistan rule the Country.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 24 2023

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