‘How is it possible to place trust in a mechanism or institution that does not hold the trust of the country’s highest courts? How is it possible to trust an institution that is influenced by State machinery?’ queried Senator Sehar Kamran (TI) during her remarks at the Senate today. She was speaking on the issue of accountability and accountability mechanisms in Pakistan when she highlighted that the use and abuse of power, state facilities and mechanisms for personal gain and protection against accountability had destroyed not only trust in state institutions, but also damaged the very fabric of society.
Senator Kamran highlighted that corruption came in many forms, and delayed or denied justice was simply another form of corruption, as was disrespecting the Parliament, in violation of the mandate and trust of the people. She also stated that is was important that the conversations on accountability were taking place in this month, days before Pakistan’s 70th Independence Day celebrations. She said it was absolutely necessary for accountability to occur across the board, but in order for that to occur, the mechanisms for this process must be above reproach in terms of their transparency and reliability. Otherwise, the country would only see a return of ‘selective, designed accountability’, not unlike the fiasco of the ‘Ehtasaab Bureau’ under Senator Saifur Rehman.
Senator Kamran stated that if history simply keeps repeating itself, and the legitimacy of an action is connected with the power, the state stops being a role model for its citizens, and loses its ability to affect positive change in society. The difference between right and wrong must not be dependent on one’s influence on state machinery.
In her remarks, Senator Sehar also paid tribute to the 4 Army martyrs who laid their lives defending our motherland.