Democracy, transparency and accountability – by Dr Farrukh Saleem
Transparency is the mother of democracy. Two things: first, there can’t be democracy without transparency. Second, democracy can’t allow the murder of her own mother. No government, therefore, is a democracy unless it ‘implements a set of policies and procedures that allow citizens to have accessibility and understandability’ of each and every entity within the government. A ‘democracy’ is not a democracy unless it guarantees organisational as well as social transparency. Organisational transparency, for instance, means that Pakistan Steel’s ‘activities must be shown consistent with regard to the society’s interests’. Social transparency, for instance, means that the focus of each and every activity of PIA should be its passengers –and citizens of Pakistan.
Accountability is the father of democracy. Two things: first, there can’t be democracy without accountability. Second, democracy can’t allow the murder of her own father. No government, therefore, is a democracy unless it implements political, administrative and market accountability. Under political accountability, every political actor – all politicians – must be held accountable by other organs of the state like parliament and judiciary. Under administrative accountability, all government servants – civil as well as military – must be held accountable. Under market accountability, the state must ensure that the market ‘provides convenience and choices to its citizens’.
Is our democracy transparent? Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (OGRA) and Sui Southern (SSGCL) have a ‘special arrangement’ with a private entity whereby the private company buys LPG at Rs9 per kg and sells at Rs72 per kg. OGRA has been ordered by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to “review its policy and implement… ‘reasonable consumer price’ and is hereby directed to take necessary measures to ensure a level playing field….”
Are our democrats accountable? Pakistan Steel is “abusing its dominant position by refusing to deal with purchasers in relation to low carbon steel billets.” As a consequence, Pakistan Steel has lost a colossal Rs22 billion of public money. How about political accountability? Of the 41 sugar mills in Punjab at least 20 are owned by politicians. This year every man, woman and child in this country must cough out an additional Rs550 so that our sugar daddies can make an additional Rs80 billion; a billion per mill. How about market accountability? Our cement cartel has 21 members. On May 8, 2003, the cartel sat and hatched a scheme — all in writing — to rip off everyone who uses cement in this country. In 2008, the CCP took suo moto action. On August 27, 2009, the CCP imposed a penalty of Rs6.3 billion — equivalent to 7.5 per cent of the turnover. On September 4, 2009, the CCP chairman was served a termination notice.
How about social transparency? The PIA and Saudi Arabian Airlines colluded to rip off Hajjis by “unreasonably increasing the Hajj fare by more than 80 per cent as compared to the preceding year in violation” of Section 3(1) and Section 3(3) (a) of the Competition Ordinance. Our cartels have accumulated all the gold in the world while three out of four Pakistanis earn an equivalent of $2 a day and eat thistles. Democratic governments break cartels. Democratic governments support consumers. Our government is in love with cartels. We have an LPG cartel, a steel cartel, a sugar cartel, a cement cartel and a rental power cartel. Democracy is about transparency, accountability and responsibility. Accountability does not weaken democracy but does the exact opposite. Transparency does not weaken democracy but does the exact opposite. Isn’t our democracy more about public money, private greed?
The writer is a columnist based in Islamabad.
Email: [email protected]
Source: The News
Quote “The PPP and its coalition partners have displayed an unwavering and unflinching position towards the menace of sectarian extremism, which incidentally is a creation of the powerful and unelected institutions of the state. In fact, there is no other political party in Pakistan that can be dubbed as truly anti-extremism as the current ruling gang. This unequivocal position has also led to successful deployment of the Pakistani military in the troubled regions of north-western Pakistan”
The government has shown undeterred commitment for fighting extremism. This is a long battle and we must not go soft on the Pakistani Taliban who vows to destroy every fragment of modernity in our society. The state along with the armed forces must be lauded for its commitment to fight the extremist elements
Since the Supreme Court has struck down NRO, it seems that Zardari is the only person behind corruption taking place in streets, in offices in one or the other form.If there were no Zardari what would the target of opposition parties and Media? It seems that Pakistan was a corruption free society before advent of Zardari. All the judges sitting in the offices, all the opposition leaders and all the elements of establishment are Maulvis, they are angels. If any one came across the book of Dr. Ayesha Siddiqua Military Inc., she revealed that Pakistani Generals are worth Rs 500 million each. She told how the Pakistani military establishment has systematically looted the country, that they are no more than thieves. The same is the situation of judges; from civil judge to judges of supreme court everyone has his own parameter of corruption, any of you ever visited courts for some personal or legal issue? I am sure you would lose your senses. Why all these are above from accountability?.
Everyone seems maligning Zardari and PPP for it is a soft target?. Does anyone have moral courage to underscore corruption in military establishment and Judiciary.Is there any one who will hold media and opposition accountable for? No, never we don’t have moral courage, we are brave enough to engineer conspiracies against democracy only.
The binding force among a specific group of media, judiciary, some political figures and the ever-towering establishment is the anger and hatred against the President Asif Ali Zardari. The only thing which is keeping them at bay is the public backlash in case of any misadventure. But the continues propaganda and smearing campaign against the President Zardari is having an effect on the public and now some people are also getting angry at him. But before we do that, we need to be rational and at least thing as why we are doing that? Does the president really deserve such treatment? What has he done? We must not become part of that angry elite which is speaking loud and harsh and talking down the people while glaring at anyone who dares to be rational and reasonable. We need to be crystal clear that this is an elected president. A symbol of anti-dictatorship and he and his parliamentarians have been elected by the people and we must respect and safeguard our mandate. And yes I am also angry and mad as hell over those people who are angry without any reason at the President Zardari.