What Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had to say while talking to journalists at the inauguration of a metro bus construction project which is to link the federal capital with the New Islamabad International Airport, has raised many eyebrows. He seemed to suggest that corruption should be accepted as a way of life when he said "there is so much corruption in the country that if we get involved in probing [the cases] all our time will be consumed in investigations and will not be able to deliver. There are so many scandals and frauds that cannot even be listed." Yet contradicting his own rather tenuous claim that getting involved in investigating fraud could hinder his ability to do good work, the Prime Minister unknowingly acknowledged that corruption and development cannot go together as he added "there are a number of projects that could not be completed in 20 years, resultantly their cost increased manifold."

It is unfortunate, indeed, to hear him throw up his hands in dealing with the scourge of corruption for which the common man has to pay dearly in the form of ever-rising cost of living and denial of the basic right to lead a decent life. Understandably, the prolonged ongoing investigations into the Panama Papers corruption case against him and his family affect the working of the government, but it is difficult to fathom how a general accountability drive can stop it from being "able to deliver." The PM seems to forget that the primary responsibility of any democratically elected government is to act in the interest of greater public good. It would not be doing its duty if it does not hold to account those looting and plundering national wealth at the cost of the country's progress and prosperity. Sadly, despite rampant corruption in high places there is not a single case where any member of the ruling elites has been brought to justice. Instead the preferred policy remains 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours'. For the people to see their elected leaders use attainment of power merely as a means for serving their own interests rather than those of who put them there undermines their trust in the system.

If the government seriously wants to set things right it does not need to worry about getting distracted from whatever it is trying to deliver. There are various accountability institutions in place. They should be given necessary independence to play their respective roles. On its part, the government needs to uphold merit while making appointments to positions high and low, and adopt transparency in giving out contracts for various development projects. The common complaints about violation of laid down rules ought to be addressed. Things would be very different if only it decides to play by the rules and gets over its tendency to control the gravy train, letting all institutions to perform their duties without let or hindrance. Going by the PM's remarks, though, that seems to be a vain hope.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017