Issue No 67, Nov 16-22, 2003 | ISSN:1684-2057 | satribune.com

How Do We Define a Scandal?

Dear Readers:

The Musharraf Govt claims from every roof top that it has the cleanest and the most honest top echelons of administration compared to political governments. They always challenge others to cite any scandal. Well they ignore so many which have been reported, or they do not consider them as corrupt practices. For instance father in law of Musharraf’s son, Bilal, had admitted on record that he worked for a 2 per cent commission for Husnain Construction which was awarded huge contracts, without bidding. The company owner claimed he has acquired 14 sick industries in 2 years. Has anyone probed how that became possible?

This week we report on a land scam in Islamabad. Some big, big guy has bought the 24,000 square yards of land in the heart of Islamabad and Army resources are being used to develop and build it. Is this not a scandal? Probably not, in the lexicon of the present Government. If this is the yardstick, all those civilians hauled up for corruption too are then ‘not guilty’. Why has the Government not responded to questions about loan write offs of Army men? If one write off can disqualify a civilian from contesting in elections, does it not disqualify an army officer from holding his job? Double standards have led to the plunge in credibility of the Generals. Have they served the country’s or even the Army’s cause by their actions? Let them answer.

Take Care
Shaheen Sehbai