The publication of PANAMA PAPERS by ICIJ: International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on May 9, 2016 took the world by surprise and opened a new Pandroa’s box worldwide. These papers contained the information on some of the Mossack Fonseca (a Panamanian law firm and corporate service provider) shell corporations which were allegedly used for illegal purposes including fraud, tax evasion, and evading international sanctions.
Although, this investigative scoop was totally global in nature, but its under-currents were severely felt at Islamabad: The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Nawaz Sharif lost his job in the aftermath of this story.
Surprisingly, this corruption scandal has opened a new debate on accountability in Pakistan which previously was merely used as a tool of repression and intimidation by the ruling party against the opposition parties. But this time the trend is changed; the ruling party has come under the weather.
Certainly this Panama Papers episode has brought a new ray of hope for the citizens of this country and a strong sentiment has developed against the ubiquitous prevalence of corruption within this society. Accountability has found a suitable place in the national discourse on print and electronic media as well, which is a good omen.
But it is also pertinent that to end corruption, a witch-hunt should not take place. Selective accountability is as dangerous as the selective justice, both create a sense of persecution among the masses.
Pakistan is a fully functional state so it won’t be difficult for it to carve out a comprehensive plan for fighting this menace of corruption. Across the board accountability is the need of the hour.
TARIQUE AHMED ABRO,
Hyderabad Sindh, November 15.