Rampant corruption in Sindh poses a major threat

ISLAMABAD: Security officials in Sindh have warned that if the present political dispensation does not ensure good governance and does not check massive corruption, the nationalist and separatist voices in the province would strengthen beyond anyone’s imagination, sooner rather than later.

Official sources told The News that things are going from bad to worse, both in terms of governance and corruption in the province, leading to the worsening law and order situation and a greater sense of deprivation among the people, particularly in the interior Sindh.

Corruption, it is said, has reached extreme levels and there is no check on such illegal practices. The provincial bureaucracy is badly politicised and the police and Rangers, particularly in Karachi, are completely frustrated for not getting the political backing; instead they are facing hurdles from government authorities and political parties in going after the criminals.

It is said that as the government is preparing to do some huge purchases worth Rs5 billion for the Sindh Police, a reputed Additional Home Secretary Syed Mumtaz Hussain Shah was transferred on Sunday.

While Rs5 billion for police procurement is being released, the Rangers demand for Rs01 billion for the purchase of weapons, protective clothing and vehicles is not being cleared for several months. The source alleged that it is being done because for the Rangers procurement, a transparent system is to be followed.

It is added that despite of late frustration of the DG Rangers in public, the provincial government is not ready to announce head money for 162 most wanted criminals, belonging to different political parties and groups. They are also waiting for the appointment of prosecutors.

They lament that despite the promise made by the provincial government in the presence of the prime minister, the development package for Lyari is not being announced. “Such is the situation in the province that some of the senior police officers have been approached by chief minister’s daughter Nafeesa Shah requesting the top cops to press Qaim Ali Shah to announce the Lyari package.”

Despite the recent Thar embarrassment that involves the death of nearly 200 children due to the apathy and callousness of the provincial government, it is said that things are not improving and the state of affairs remain unchanged.

The security official said that only a few months back, some key political figures were trapped in a Rs06 billion hawala scandal. These political figures were alleged to have sent their Rs06 billion abroad through a hawala agent who, interestingly, fled to Canada with the money.

No FIR could be lodged as these public figures had no justification to tell the world from where they got this money. They reportedly raised the issue with one of their political superiors, who allegedly gave them a shut up call and suggested them to forget and move on.