Written by: Musawar Qureshi
Pakistan is a country blessed by Almighty Allah with countless bounties. Fertile land, natural resources, a vibrant youth, strategic geographical importance, a brave military, and a hardworking populace—all these elements are more than enough to put any nation on the path to progress and prosperity. Unfortunately, despite several decades since its inception, the country remains trapped in severe crises like poverty, unemployment, injustice, and malpractice. If we were to trace the root cause of all these issues to a single factor, it is undeniably “corruption.”
In Pakistan, corruption is no longer limited to a few individuals; it has metastasized into a cancer. From high-ranking government officials down to lower-tier employees, bribery, nepotism, commissions, embezzlement of public funds, and the abuse of power have become systemic in most institutions. When ordinary citizens visit any office for legitimate work, they are forced to pay bribes just to get their rightful dues, because without it, nothing moves. This is the ultimate tragedy that has alienated the common man from both the law and the state.
The most disappointing aspect of Pakistani politics is the predictable cycle: political parties in the opposition loudly accuse the sitting government of corruption, yet the moment they assume power, they face the exact same allegations. Accountability has been reduced to a mere tool for political victimization. Every administration brands its opponents as thieves and robbers, but once in office, they tread the very same path. To date, no government or dedicated anti-corruption institution has carried out a transparent and genuine accountability process. Even if a few corrupt individuals are caught, they invariably secure their freedom through backroom deals and mutual understandings.
The state of affairs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is no different. For the past thirteen to fourteen years, a single political party has held power here, riding on grand promises of “change” (Tabdeeli), strict accountability, and absolute transparency. However, a crucial question arises: if genuine accountability actually took place, how did individuals who lived in rented houses until yesterday suddenly become owners of billions of rupees today? How did their assets skyrocket so abruptly? The public has every right to demand answers about where this immense wealth came from after entering the corridors of power.
Recently, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced that anyone with evidence of corruption should step forward, promising that the government would take immediate action and even reimburse their travel expenses. But the reality is that this is just empty rhetoric meant to deceive the public. While it sounds like a positive gesture on the surface, the populace is tired of slogans and wants to see practical, decisive steps. No one can be fooled by these gimmicks anymore, as the history of Pakistan bears witness that accountability has only been used to target political rivals while shielding one’s own people.
If the provincial government is truly sincere, it must start by launching a comprehensive investigation into the assets of its own ministers, advisors, MPAs, and MNAs. The records of their income and expenses must be made public. Furthermore, institutions like NAB, FIA, and the Anti-Corruption Establishment must be completely liberated from political influence so that accountability ceases to be a weapon used only against the poor or weak, and instead brings the powerful to justice.
To eradicate corruption in Pakistan, merely drafting laws is not enough; a genuine shift in intent and moral character is required. Until rulers set personal examples of simplicity and financial integrity, respect for the law will never develop among the masses. In a country that claims to be an Islamic state, if bribery becomes the norm, the deserving are deprived of their rights, and the powerful remain above the law, society inevitably heads toward absolute collapse.
Both the Quran and Hadith strictly condemn bribery, invoking divine curse upon both the giver and the taker. Yet, it is deeply tragic that bribery is treated almost as a “right” in our society today. Many officials openly excuse their actions by claiming that low salaries force them to accept bribes. They forget that ill-gotten wealth never brings peace of mind; it may offer temporary luxury, but it guarantees a severe reckoning in the Hereafter.
Pakistan’s primary crisis is not a lack of resources, but rather the dishonest management of existing ones. If the national budget were spent with absolute integrity, if commissions were eliminated from development projects, and if funds meant for education and healthcare were not plundered, Pakistan could stand among developed nations within a few years. Instead, governments burden the poor with heavy taxes to fund their own lavish lifestyles without cutting back on their personal privileges. They should be providing relief to the struggling masses rather than increasing their own salaries and perks.
These very politicians approach the public during elections acting as if they deeply feel the pain and suffering of the people. They deceive the voters, but the moment they gain power, they forget both the public and the promises they made. We, the people of Pakistan, are also incredibly naive; we get fooled by these politicians repeatedly, casting our votes to elect them again and again. We naively believe they will solve our problems and pull us out of the quicksand of poverty, only for these rulers to push the poor deeper into destitution. One wonders when awareness will finally awaken in our people, and when we will be blessed with honest, genuinely empathetic rulers. Tragically, our elders took this dream to their graves, we might do the same, and perhaps our children will too.
Today, a poor man struggles just to secure two meals a day, while the elite class grows wealthier by the day. This glaring economic inequality is the direct byproduct of corruption and injustice. When a laborer’s child is deprived of basic education and healthcare while the ruling class builds vast empires and properties abroad, it naturally breeds deep-seated hatred and despair in the hearts of the citizens.
The time has come to establish a truly impartial system of accountability in Pakistan—one that applies equally to everyone, from the Prime Minister down to a low-ranking clerk. We need a system where a thief is punished regardless of their political affiliation or institutional backing.
At the same time, the public must realize its own collective responsibility. As long as citizens continue to pay bribes to get illegal tasks done, corruption will never end. A nation’s destiny is not changed by governments alone; the awareness, moral character, and collective integrity of its people play an equally vital role.
Pakistan can no longer endure empty slogans. The people demand tangible, practical change. If our rulers are truly sincere, they must prove through their actions that they are here to serve the public, not to line their own pockets. History always humiliates the oppressor, the corrupt, and the deceiver, while honest leadership grants nations honor, dignity, and lasting progress.
