Aziz Narejo November 4, 2004

Tags: corruption

rel="tag" href="/tag/trade">trade, business, industry, commerce, banking, services sector, agriculture and the real estate.

And then whenever any new opportunities arise like the lining of watercourses, repair of a barrage or even a canal, collection of toll taxes on highways, building roads, bridges and other infrastructure, one doesn’t have to guess who would beat the competition in the award of contracts.

The praetorian masters have also assumed the responsibilities to conduct and oversee the elections, handle the internal security, assume the governance of the country, take charge of the democracy and manage and guide the political parties in deciding who is going to ‘qualify’ and run for which seat, who is going to get what position and who is going to form a government at the center, in a province, a district, a Tehsil or even a Union Council.

The job market is not any different either. A large number of serving and retired personnel have been inducted in civil services, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies and many other organizations. Some of them have found their berths in the cabinet and also in the parliament. A retired general who is in charge of the federal education ministry has publicly said that khakis could be inducted in the educational institutions as well.

But unfortunately it doesn’t stop there. The men in uniform are also trying to control the fishing in the Sindh coastal areas bringing misery to poor fishermen who are already facing serious problems and have seen their population significantly depleted in recent years due to the destruction of the deltaic life as a direct result of the unavailability of water downstream Kotri.

It may be recalled here that the Rangers were given control over one lake in the coastal areas during the Zia regime. Once there, the protectors of our borders took no time to occupy all the lakes and creeks in Badin and other coastal areas of Sindh. The Rangers officials now award the contracts to their ‘favorite’ people, purchase the catch from the fishermen on nominal price and sell them in Karachi and other urban areas on exorbitant rates. The fishermen are not allowed to carry even a small quantity of fish for their home.

Rangers are reported to be harassing the fishermen in the coastal belt area and robbing them of their only means of livelihood. Press reports say the Rangers have indulged in gross brutalities and highhandedness that include attacking and arresting villagers, entering their homes and manhandling and torturing men and women folk, disallowing them from fishing even in the creeks let alone the lakes or the sea.

These deplorable actions have created a grave and exceedingly volatile situation especially in Badin district. The fishermen and the local population are up in protest. They have sent an SOS to the government, the political and NGO leadership and the media. Hopefully someone would listen to them before a catastrophe befalls them?

It must also be realized that the overall situation is becoming very bleak and gloomy for many among us. The despair and desolation are assuming alarming proportions.

The civil society is becoming extremely worried and anxious to see that there is nothing left for the common men and women except for the ever-increasing poverty, helplessness, sectarian and ethnic terrorism, crime, law and order problem and insecurity. It is asking very relevant questions: are there any limits to corruption, use of force, violence, injustice and the usurpation? Will the situation ever change for better for the ordinary folks?