It is a pleasure to read Chief Justice’s remarks that corrupt elements would not be allowed to enter parliament, his observation that every candidate will be subjected to strict scrutiny is encouraging. At the same time, corruption has many guises, nevertheless, with all its manifestations, it is loathsome and condemnable but has become such a part of our society that we have accepted it as an unwelcome family member. It is a disease from which no one is immune and it does not respond to any temporary cure or treatments but requires a major surgery.
Due to the connivance between parties, (ruling and opposition) corruption is extremely hard to prove in a court of law. Corruption exists in many different forms and manifestations. Similarly, if a person is swayed by personal prejudices such as racial, ethnic, social, cultural, jealousy, in their work related decisions, this would be tantamount to corruption. Our history tells us that corruption charges are extremely difficult, if not possible, to prove in any court of law. This is one of the reasons that all parties, despite being corrupt to the hilt, always claim that they are innocent, as nothing can be proved against them. There is no machine or technology to filter the virtues from the depraved but some further elaboration of what constitutes corruption may help us weed out these disruptive elements.
RAJA SHAFAATULLAH,
Islamabad, March 31.