Letter To The Editor: Drawbacks of Political Inductions

Drawbacks of Political Inductions
The Frontier Post
23-04-2013

Degree is degree, whether fake or genuine. These words of Aslam Raisani clearly signify the political mindset of this country. Slaughter of merit and devaluing a competent and well educated person is not a new practice. In past, whosoever came into power always misused his authority by inducting unskillful and inexpedient people on key posts.
Chairman of Ogra and many other posts being filled through MNA’s and MPA’s are worth citing examples. Actually, political inductions are promoted and practiced due to several reasons. The main reason of such extra-constitutional moves is to influence elections and administration for vested political interests. In laws, we used to read that a civil servant should be non-partisan but in practice the situation is totally different.
There is a misconceived notion that a civil servant will never flourish if he is not acquainted with a ruling political party. And, whosoever tries to raise objections over the misuse of authority, his fate will be made an example for all preachers and promoters of merit. Case of Anita Turab speaks volume in this regard.
No doubt, there is no dearth of talent in Pakistan. People are endowed with a number of qualities but they have no opportunities to excel their professional traits. Unless seats are not filled through merit and non-political basis, attainment of administrative efficiency can never be achieved.
It is therefore, Supreme Court and the care-taker government should scrutinize the jobs given in the last five years. It goes without saying that there are thousands of civil servants serving on higher and lower cadres who can not even write a single letter.
Their efficiency and administrative qualities is a biggest question mark on the previous government.
No doubt, Pakistan is democratically flourishing but administratively it is weakening. For absolute democratic culture, it is necessary to bring some changes in existing recruitment criteria. Besides, political inductees or Officials affiliated with a certain political party should also be held accountable of their actions, if they fall prey to any political activity.
Remember, on 25th of March 1948 Quaid-I-Azam said to the civil servants that you have nothing to do with the politics. You are only responsible of administrative duties.
Hence, prior to de-politicization of institutions, civil servants must de-politicize themselves in order make Pakistan the most efficient and delivering country.

Waqar Abro
Karachi