QUESTION:

Jamaat talked of accountability. The government of Nawaz Sharif was doing that. There is the "Ehtesab (accountability) Cell", and the Chief Ehtesab Commissioner and the courts are taking up references. Why then Jamaat is not satisfied with all this?

ANSWER:

We believe that the accountability process of the present government is mere hoax. They are trying to deceive the public. The pre-requisite of accountability is that the "Muhtasib" should first offer himself for scrutiny. Qur’an ordains that justice be upheld. It says: "O, ye the believers! stay firm for justice and be witness for the sake of Allah (stay absolutely impartial), may the justice proves against you, or your parents, or your close relations." The Qur’an further says: "O the believers! Stand for the sake of Allah, be witness of justice. And the misdeed of someone should never provoke you to be unjust. Do justice, because it is what suits the God-fearing people to do."

The present-day rulers have disregarded both these Divine Commands. They are not presenting themselves for accountability. They are only taking revenge from their political opponents. To keep oneself above law and not impartially subjecting himself also to accountability, is not justice. It is commonly known that the "Ehtesab Committees" being constituted were dubious. People were made to strike deals and thus the institution was made yet another means of corruption. By sharing and joining hands with corrupt people, only corruption will be multiplied. That is why we asked our party members and supporters to stay away from these Committees, because they do not intend accountability and mean only to bargain and cover up local corrupt people.

The newspapers inform that Government was successful in getting back the plundered money and foreign exchange from Schon and other such big groups. Was it not commendable?

We would rather ask that a long list of defaulters was published in the newspapers and those people still lived in the country. Why the money due to them was not taken back? The defaulter's list included names who are closer to the Prime Minister and are on the treasury bench. And what this re-scheduling means? It was only deceiving people. Let all the defaulters, be made to yield and pay back. People who have assets worth billions of rupees, had no right to get their loans written off in the name of loss........!

For More details: Accountability and the challenge of correct National Priorities