A state exists and thrives when laws prevail over whims of individuals. Pakistan was established through a constitutional struggle waged by politicians of intellect and integrity for the creation of a welfare state, with a constitution as the supreme law. It was not created to be a fiefdom of a few. All leading stalwarts of Pakistan’s freedom struggle were educated men and women who believed in universally accepted norms and ethics of governance. Most of them devoted their lives to the pursuit of achieving an independent state where the Muslim majority could live in peace and harmony with members of other faiths. Adherence to ethics of governance such as “conflicts of interest” was stressed upon by Holy Prophet PBUH and adopted by his companions such as Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Usman, Hazrat Ali etc., in letter and spirit. It is important for national security and sovereignty that all appointments to public office should be strictly made on merit. Nations prosper only when the most qualified amongst them are selected to hold offices funded by the national exchequer. It is equally important that those who hold important constitutional and paid offices should have no history of any financial irregularity, such as loan defaulters by design.
Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah stressed the importance of a moral code of ethics. He led by example and warned that Pakistan must shed unethical legacies of the British colonial Raj. There should be no compromise on the loyalty of citizens to Pakistan and no place for individuals with split loyalties in the corridors of power. It is time to recognize that all is not well in Pakistan. The ease with which a gross irregularity such as the construction of Constitution One Avenue was allowed in 2005, on land allotted by CDA for a much-needed hotel to accommodate foreign VIPs, reflects the seriousness of the governance crisis. CDA was created to regulate construction in accordance with laws and regulations, with a key responsibility to protect ecological balance by preventing tree cutting, deforestation and construction in designated national reserves. Yet such irregularities were allowed to proceed with full knowledge of the federal government.
This raises important questions about CDA and those who have held constitutional offices since 2005. Accountability should be ensured and responsible officials, including the concerned CDA chairman, should be held accountable in accordance with due process. CDA appears to have increasingly focused on plot allocation, at times raising concerns about balance between development, environmental protection, and public interest, while greater attention is needed toward providing facilities for tax-paying and law-abiding citizens. Similar concerns are also observed in other regions: in Punjab, housing societies have emerged along river flow paths near Lahore; in KPK, environmental changes have affected mountain and forest areas; and in Sindh, coastal land use patterns have impacted the livelihoods of local communities.
In the rare instance when a computerized balloting was held for the general public in 1990, the majority of those declared successful by CDA still await, after 36 years, possession in E-12/4. In the interim period, thousands of plots have been demarcated and handed over to the elite. This curse seems to have afflicted every state institution. In the DHA Valley project in Islamabad, plots were allotted through balloting in 2008. Even those who have paid all installments have not been given possession or even allotted a plot. Such abuses have damaged the credibility of institutions.
The Preamble of the Pakistan Constitution states that sovereignty over the entire universe belongs to Almighty Allah SWT alone, and authority is to be exercised by the people within limits prescribed by law and Islamic principles of justice and equality. There is no space in the Constitution for cults or ruling families. Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar enforced Zakat collection and emphasized state authority. Both forbade military commanders from destroying livelihoods, cutting fruit trees or killing animals except for nutritional needs. Hazrat Umar eliminated conflicts of interest by ensuring public office holders did not use their positions for personal gain, separating judiciary from executive control to ensure impartiality and justice. He also prohibited governors from engaging in business during their tenure, believing it compromised decision-making. The IPP capacity payment agreements reflect an abuse of power.
Political appointments have haunted Pakistan. The national airline PIA was destroyed by the appointment of mediocrity with a history of corruption. While these few went from rags to riches, with assets located in Manchester UK, the Gulf and Canada, PIA became bankrupt. Pakistan must set its house in order and ensure that universally adopted ethics of governance are strictly followed in Pakistan. If Nasla Towers can be demolished because a part of the plot was irregular, then this should be the fate of Constitution One Avenue. CDA must understand that permission for high-rise construction in the Red Zone poses a security threat.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
