IS ACCOUNTABILITY A MUST FOR A SOCIETY?

We are always talking of accountability in politics. Has any body been made accountable for his deeds or misdeeds in 61 years of our convulsive history? If not. Was there no one, who had ever done any thing wrong; and we were ruled by angels. If the answer is ‘yes’. Then the public has got the right to ask that who brought us to this present state. We have no rights at home, or no respect abroad. If the answer is that they were not angels; then again we have the right to ask; why those persons were not made accountable? Is it because every ruler; who took over; was no better than the previous one?
Is there any logical, political or religious binding which prohibits the application of accountability. The answer will be definitely “No.”
Religiously speaking, if accountability was not essential in Islam; the concept of the day of judgment would have been irrelevant. According to Islam if you don’t believe in the day of judgment; you are not a Muslim. That day is the day of accountability.
Does it mean to say; we should leave every thing for Allah; to sort it out on the day of judgment? That does not make sense. Then; what was the point; to create a world and appoint human beings as His viceroy? One may ask about the duty of viceroy. The duty of a viceroy is to run a colony according to the law and consider himself answerable to Allah. In fact in Islam; there is dual accountability, to Allah and the public or shura; the elected body of the people. It does not mean that an ordinary citizen have no right to ask the rulers himself; if he/ she feels that injustice has been done to him. He does not have to wait till the session of the parliament is called or the election or the overthrow of the government by Generals. In other words Allah has given us complete autonomy in this world; as His viceroy and there should be a system of continuous accountability. Even then no one can escape the accountability on the day of judgment. It is because of the limitation of the knowledge of a human being. We cannot see what he can see. He invites us to use our wisdom and thoughts.
In western democracy the accountability is to the people and to the house and court of law. In any civilized society no body is above law. In Britain even the constituency
In the light of above introduction; where do we stand? We are neither practicing Islam, nor we are practicing western democracy. So we cheat Allah and our fellow country men.
The present state of affair will not be there on the day of judgment as one of my great friend and writer told me that neither there will be Islam Abad nor NWFP; nor the problem of NFC award & Hydal power revenue. So these decisions are to be made in this world. If we fail to make it here. Allah will intervene. It is up to him to do it in this world or on the day of accountability.
Our politician are using it as a political slogan. When they reach to the corridor of power and then shut the door behind with force; not to hear the screams of the people. They are least bothered of Allah and the public. Loot is their faith and those who fail every where; their success is guaranteed here in this country in politics. Initial investment is a bit difficult; then there is no problem. I am in politics since 1964 so knowing most of those rich magnets. I was always proud that we have none in my district; Shangla. But thank God that our representatives have not only caught up with the others; but have left the most senior players behind.
We have been robbed systematically and cruelly from day one; by all those in power or near the corridor of power. If you are lucky to establish some sort of secret and special relationship with the generals; then it depends on you to be as aggressive as you can be; to suck hard till the last drop; there is no law or authority to stop you. There could be exception but no law to this phenomenon. Methodology may vary but the aim is the same. There is nothing to worry about accountability. The one on the way to replace previous one ; will need your services and wealth with a guarantee to get it double. The secret is; invest quickly and suck forcefully. The ruling class is of the same creed with a bit of alteration in the last alphabet like N,Q, F and C etc. In one of my article before I have written that I have seen these sort of headless creatures; having “da sar sorey” covering acres of land with Munhall style palaces. I never wished to see their palaces but was really interested to see their heads but they had none.
Being a doctor of medicine; probably I have different conception of head. The one which has grey and white matters and all the rubbish; which binds one in a web of character, fear, code of life and morality.
If you don’t have any of these then there is nothing to worry about; or if you have; crush these enemies of wealth and start a loot. Keep the one on top a bit happy by gifts through home department. It doesn’t need much; an imported Japanese car, jewelry; diamonds work better. When you are playing with billions then millions hardly matter.
This is the financial aspect of accountability but one should not be oblivious to the different aspects of an individual o a society.
For example power is the most important factor. That could be military power or civilians. It is unfortunate that power makes a man corrupt and absolute make him absolutely corrupt. Corruption may be the misuse of power financially, politically, personally or any other way which may be detrimental to the society or public institutions or to the world at large. To use the power; to start state terrorism against their own people; or people of a different country. The bulldozing of the opposition is another way of corruption. To deprive the humanity of basic human rights , violation of international law, abrogation of a country law or encroaching on the other institutions to centralize the power. It is very unfortunate that in third world countries the rulers are enjoying the absolute power particularly in Muslims dominated counties or so called Islamic world. They are invariably backed by US. It has been on the record that globally. People around the world is looking to Mr.Obama to bring some changes and shun these double standards. It is also a form of corruption on global scale. UNO was made to have a check on global Bonaparte but it was not to be!! Will Obama restore the dignity of this world forum.
Coming back to Pakistan who failed to grow as a modern democratic state and now being considered a political dwarf. Politically unreliable and economically unstable having no institution, no law , no consistent internal or external policy. To attain nuclear capability is to deter the outsider away; but our nuclear capability has become a liability rather than an asset and has put our integrity at stake. We are more vulnerable to out side interference. Civilians or khaki has lost the relevance. Islam Abad change their mental make up.
Let us take one political party who is the biggest champion of democracy. Muslim League (N) who took oath from her candidates; to leave the seat if they were elected and then changed their loyalty. But kept the flood gate open for the millionaires of the Q-League. This another sort of corruption to provide protection to the corrupts of last regimen.
The accountability is a must to create healthy atmosphere where democracy can breed and rulers can be checked. This word was first coined by late Wali Khan. When he raised the slogan first; accountability & then election. But late Z.A.Bhutto replied that the “Pahaari” Guerilla is afraid to face people.
Another irony is that the accountability here is being used for political victimization like Musharaf did it against Bhutto and Nawaz. The very process was in itself a corruption to misuse its power.
Accountability restores public confidence in the system. It should be never time limited or limited to a section of the society but across the board right from day one till one. It should be made of people of national and international repute and should be drawn from judiciary; civil bodies, writers, lecturer and others like a jury.
BY Dr. K.Alam. khurshidalam5 @hotmail.com