Corruption has rightly been singled out as the main obstacle to economic, social and political betterment in our society and hence to the development of a truly ‘Naya Pakistan’, not as a figment of imagination but in substance. Fighting corruption thus occupies centre stage on Imran Khan’s government efforts for improvement in the country. Along with the NAB and the judiciary, the government is making efforts to deal with the problem but more often than not they face serious obstacles. With everything to lose the corrupt have gone out in all out no-holds barrel campaign to derail the PTI government and the institutions that are making them accountable.
Corruption comes in many forms and disguises but in every image it is sustained by perjury. Perjury means telling lies in the court under oath, it is a criminal offence anywhere in the world, let alone in Pakistan. According to the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), a person giving or fabricating false evidence is liable to be punished with imprisonment for life or with rigorous imprisonment extending to ten years, and also liable to being fined. However, it is so rarely used it does not provide any deterrent against a witness who comes into court solely to mislead and propagate lies. The business of touts is lucrative, outside every court in the land you will find them making a living telling blatantly lies under oath, literally “mouths for hire”. An August 2018 media report quotes the Sindh High Court (SHC) Registrar’s submission in a case regarding judicial reforms, “SHC and its subordinate courts have not prosecuted even a single individual over the past three years for perjury under Sections 193-196 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).”
Perjury is an especially dangerous factor all around, this criminal offence undermines the very purpose of the court, the laws of the country and the judiciary system at large, to deliver justice to the people and society. That has always been a central endeavour of any state, any administration and government that cannot and does not deliver justice is not credible, even that perception weakens the system and the state. What is really dangerous is that judiciary across the board accepts it as a fact of life and does nothing about it. No wonder that the honest citizens of the country feel discouraged to go to court because they are not sure that justice will prevail. Conversely the crooks are confident going to court because they are quite sure that they can manage things to their satisfaction. Therefore the telling of lies, faking documents, fabricating evidence, hiding the truth etc in court and in front of NAB is commonplace in Pakistan, this is the reason why Nawaz Sharif and family were ready and confident in facing ‘accountability’. Moreover when they were in power could anyone dare tell the truth about them? The very fact that one goes to court with the intention to hide, misrepresent and deny one’s real dealings is a sign that our courts and judiciary are not respected or even feared the way they should be in order for them to be able to deliver justice.
The connection between lies and injustice is a major fact that has to be considered and taken up in the educational system and the media. Laws alone do not change the mindset of people. What is needed is a society in which liars must face social boycott instead of appreciation for their cleverness. To achieve such a change will surely take time but the process has to be started at once especially in the interest of the younger generation that has to understand the evil consequences of telling and tolerating lies.
For Imran Khan it is extremely important to get rid of those around him known for their lies and deceit. He cannot expect others to believe in the integrity of his struggle for justice while a public perception exists that he is applying different standards for some of his close aides and associates. Indeed they seem to be calling the shots in the governance of this regime both overtly and covertly. What is then the difference between him and others before him? Examples must be made of prominent people indulging in perjury. Imran Khan can keep talking about “Naya Pakistan” but he can rest assured that while perjury keeps on sustaining corruption the “Naya Pakistan” that his countryman desperately want and he is vocal about articulating, will never be possible.
