Army Chief General Raheel Sharif called for ‘across the board accountability’ on Tuesday in order to bring solidarity, integrity and prosperity in Pakistan in an unprecedented public statement amid a ballooning controversy surrounding the Panama leaks. He said that the fight against terrorism and extremism cannot bring enduring peace and stability unless the menace of corruption is uprooted. He said Pakistan’s armed forces will fully support every meaningful effort in that direction, which would ensure a better future for our next generations.
It is impossible to disagree with the call of COAS regarding across the board accountability, considering the fact that if we want to make this country terrorism free, it is equally important to make this state corruption free first. After the statement of COAS some fractions of political parties started campaign that chief of army should refrain from passing such statements. And does across the board accountability also includes all the institutions of the state? Well on Thursday COAS crushed the apprehensions in an empathic manner, he dismissed 11 military officers over corruption, in a rare display of accountability by the institution. One lieutenant general, one major general, five brigadiers, three colonels and one major are among those dismissed by the Army chief.
It’s an extraordinary development and we all must appreciate COAS for taking such a bold action. Now it is up to civilian government to take all the measures in uprooting corruption from our society. Sharif family should take initiative by forming a judicial commission under serving judges to investigate leaks of Panama Papers. Around 220 Pakistanis, including three children of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, have been named in the massive leak of documents from a Panama-based law firm.
Across the accountability is must in order to bring solidarity, integrity and prosperity in Pakistan.
