Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission arrested K-P Minister of Mineral Development Ziaullah Afridi and nine others on corruption charges.Afridi, a member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, was arrested for misusing his authority and violating the ban on the issuance of tenders, according to the official.The arrest of a serving minister indicates that as per the PTI’s promise, the Ehtesab Commission is working independently and it is hoped that this is indeed the case. However, there are also indications that this development could be a result of a personal tiff between the minister and other senior PTI leaders in K-P, with Mr Afridi claiming that his arrest is the price of opposing the chief minister on some fronts. Regardless of the reasons behind the arrest, corruption allegations against Mr Afridi’s ministry have been surfacing for long. Bad governance has been a critical issue that the country has been facing for the last 60 years. If the PTI ensures good governance, it can win the hearts of the masses. This is the best bet for any political party to win. A question is also being raised about the PTI’s criteria for the selection of its leadership. How can a corrupt politician be given the portfolio of a minister? In fact the PTI is busy in a campaign to take everybody willing into its fold without checking their track record. The PTI needs to introduce a screening system under which it should bring only those persons into the party fold who do not have a tainted past. PTI is a new party and 68 years of corruption cannot be washed away over night. For now, it does not matter that the PTI has corrupt men in its ranks borrowed from the PML-N and PPP, this an accepted trend. What matters to the public is the appearance that the PTI will punish those who are caught. While not ideal, this is all we have in terms of political accountability by any party in Pakistan. It is okay to still be sceptical about the PTI. There are many a shady personality in its ranks. While the party will return salaries of absent the MNAs, it took them some time to decide to do the right thing. Public criticism can catalyse these changes. In contrast, the PPP, PML-N and MQM have had spectacular public debacles, and no culling of is ranks. The PTI chief, Imran Khan, has now stated that the minister will have to resign his position until the inquiry into the case is completed. This statement is indeed welcome, but the Ehtesab Commission will have to prove its independence by carrying out an impartial inquiry that favours no individual.
pk.shafaqna.com
