Pakistan`s political culture monstrously corrupt: Daily
Pak is facing "a danger that in some parts of the country the election is going to be tainted to the point at which it is constitutionally invalid", warned a daily.
|Last Updated: Jan 23, 2013, 01:01 PM IST|Source: Bureau
Islamabad: Pakistan is facing "a danger that in some parts of the country the election is going to be tainted to the point at which it is constitutionally invalid", warned a daily that called the country`s political culture "monstrously corrupt".
An editorial in the News International Wednesday said that the entire political culture of the country is "monstrously corrupt where finding honesty is akin to seeking the proverbial needle in a haystack".
"Elections bring out the very worst in our politicians, and many are limbering up for a corruption-fest like no other - the general election later this year.
"Elections being all about votes, now is the time to buy. How better to buy a vote than by giving the voter a job in these times when jobs are hard to come by, and pre-poll rigging is now in full swing. Thousands are being inducted into jobs and billions of rupees diverted from development projects to the discretionary fund of the prime minister for its utilisation in his own constituency," said the daily.
The editorial stressed that so blatant has this manipulation become that the Election Commission Monday banned all such moves, "and not before time".
It went on to warn that there is a danger "in some parts of the country the election is going to be tainted to the point at which it is constitutionally invalid..."
"The induction of thousands of people into government departments amounts to a political bribe. It is thus imperative to take action to stop the rot, though putting the brakes on a juggernaut like our political class when it has the scent of power and money in its collective nostrils might not be easy," the editorial added.
The daily noted that banning of recruitment into federal government positions and the freezing of funds "before they disappear into pockets they were never destined for is not going to change the corrupt mindset that is all-pervasive".
"Every one of our elected bodies at federal and provincial levels is stuffed with individuals and groups who seek, at every opportunity, to corrupt the democratic process, to tilt the electorate in their direction," it added.
IANS
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.