Pakistan has the dubious distinction of being the world´s second-most corrupt nation, after Nigeria, according to the findings of the Berlin-based non¬governmental organisation Transparency International (TI). TI´s findings are based on a survey of business executives of multinationals in 54 countries dealing with politicians and bureaucrats "who enrich themselves in transactions with companies".
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto promptly dismissed the survey as rubbish, but no one in Pakistan appeared particularly surprised at its findings. There seems to be a general consensus that although corruption exists everywhere in varying degrees, in Pakistan it is particularly widespread, Bhutto´s disclaimers notwithstanding. The TI report may have dealt a blow to Pakistan´s image abroad, and the situation certainly needs to be tackled internally and immediately.
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto promptly dismissed the survey as rubbish, but no one in Pakistan appeared particularly surprised at its findings. There seems to be a general consensus that although corruption exists everywhere in varying degrees, in Pakistan it is particularly widespread, Bhutto´s disclaimers notwithstanding. The TI report may have dealt a blow to Pakistan´s image abroad, and the situation certainly needs to be tackled internally and immediately.
Hard on the heels of the TI report came the news item in the London-based The Sunday Express, which reported on a secret purchase of a 355-acre mansion at a cost of 2.5 million pounds in Surrey, England, by the prime minister and her spouse, Asif Ali Zardari. The government´s denials and threats to sue the Sunday Express were weak, to say the least, particularly since the paper´s management stood by its story and expressed readiness to face legal charges.