Pakistan: KPK government's hasty move

Whether it was inexperience or enthusiasm to set new standards of clean governance in what it promises to turn into a 'model government' in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the PTI has created an unnecessary controversy over an important issue. First, PTI Chairman Imran Khan issued a public warning, saying corrupt ministers in his party's KPK government would be held to account. Then last Wednesday Chief Minister Pervez Khattak announced sacking Industries, Commerce and Labour Minister Bakht Baidar and Forest and Environment Minister Haji Ibrar Hussain of the Qaumi Watan Party on charges of corruption, without issuing a formal charge sheet. QWP has since been lashing out against Imran, saying he could not implement his plan of curbing corruption and hence had made QWP as a scapegoat. The party chief, Sikandar Hayat Sherpao, also accused Imran at a press conference of interference in the work of ministries allocated to his party. In support of his allegation, Sherpao brandished a letter that he said, Imran had sent him last July for the appointment of an engineer as chief executive of Oil and Gas Company. PTI spokesperson Shireen Mizari said the letter was fake and the party chairman's signatures forged. Common sense suggests that even if the PTI leader had wanted the appointment he could have done so by asking the Chief Minister to pursue the case with the minister concerned. Responding to the allegations, Imran himself sought to remind his accuser that the nation donated money to his two public welfare projects, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital and the Namal University, which was proof enough that he never interfered in the working of the two institutions. Lost in these allegations and counter-allegations is the real issue: what exactly is the nature and extent of wrongdoing the ministers are accused of? As per standard practice, the Chief Minister should have issued them show-cause notices that the QWP says did not happen. Second and most importantly, the government should have come up with a formal charge-sheet, initiating legal proceedings through proper channel. In a democratic dispensation no one must be condemned without being heard. According to Sherpao, the Chief Minister did not inform his party through as much as a verbal communication about the reasons behind the dismissal. "The news about sacking of the ministers," he claimed, "came to us through the media." If true, this is unacceptable behaviour. Corruption in high places being a major issue in this country, the news has generated huge interest with many applauding the PTI for making an example of a coalition partner's members. Imran himself has been using the issue to claim credit for having delivered on his promise to end corruption, saying the PTI was elected on an anti-corruption mandate, and that "this should be a clear warning for all our ministers and MPAs; the PTI cannot have as a coalition partner from any party that tolerates corruption." A media trial of the alleged offenders has already started amid unconfirmed reports of wrongdoing. Before patting itself on the back for its purported anti-corruption move and looking for public approval, the PTI government must justify its action. It must initiate proper legal proceedings against the accused, giving them a fair chance to clear their names.