Pakistan is an Islamic Republic. This state was founded on the promise that a system based on the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah would establish justice, equality, integrity, and fairness. Yet today, the harsh reality is that the greatest challenge facing ordinary citizens is not merely inflation, unemployment, or the lack of resources, but the widespread corruption and bribery that have severely undermined the credibility of state institutions.
Pakistan’s rulers must remember that power is temporary.
This article is a sincere message addressed to Pakistan’s rulers, federal and provincial ministers, members of parliament, the bureaucracy, police, revenue departments, local government institutions, and all public officials. If we truly aspire to transform Pakistan into the Islamic, welfare-oriented, and prosperous state envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal, then the first step must be the eradication of bribery, corruption, and the abuse of authority.
Allah Almighty clearly commands in the Holy Qur’an:
“And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or offer it to the authorities in order to wrongfully consume a portion of other people’s wealth while you know it is sinful.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:188)
This command is not directed solely at the public; it equally applies to all rulers and government officials who hold positions of authority. Remember, a public office may be a source of honour, but above all, it is a trust. On the Day of Judgment, every individual will be held accountable for how that trust was fulfilled.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Allah has cursed the one who gives a bribe, the one who accepts it, and the one who acts as an intermediary between them.”
This Hadith should serve as a powerful reminder to every minister, secretary, commissioner, deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner, police officer, tax official, land revenue officer, clerk, and every public servant. If a person unlawfully accepts even a single rupee in exchange for performing a legitimate public duty, they are not only violating the law but also incurring the displeasure of Allah. Pakistan’s rulers must remember that power is temporary. Ministerial positions, official vehicles, protocol, authority, and government residences will one day come to an end. However, before Allah’s court, every decision, every signature, every appointment, every promotion, every contract, and every right denied to the people will be accounted for.
If the file of a poor citizen remains pending simply because they cannot afford to pay a bribe; if an orphan’s pension is delayed for months because they cannot offer “tea money”; or if a deserving young person is denied employment because they lack influence or money, then the responsibility for such injustice rests not only on an individual but on the entire system.
Islamic history offers us the exemplary governance of Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). He would walk the streets at night in disguise to learn about the conditions of his people. He believed that if even a single animal under his rule died of hunger, he would be answerable before Allah. Pakistan’s leaders today need to revive the same profound sense of responsibility.
Government officials receive their salaries from the taxes paid by the people. They are not masters of the public but servants of the people. When a citizen visits a government office to seek a lawful service, they deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and justice. Accepting bribes to process a file or deliberately delaying official work is not merely corruption; it is oppression.
Pakistan’s rulers, ministers, and senior bureaucrats must move beyond speeches and take practical steps to eliminate bribery from public institutions. A system must be established in which every citizen receives their lawful rights within the prescribed time, without recommendations, favouritism, or illegal payments. If, in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a poor citizen is still forced to pay a bribe simply to obtain what is rightfully theirs, then serious reflection on the country’s governance is essential.
It is equally true that the public also bears responsibility. We must refrain from offering bribes, seeking unlawful recommendations, using money to circumvent the law, or obtaining unfair advantages. An Islamic society is built not only by the government but through the collective integrity and moral conduct of both the state and its citizens.
Today, Pakistan faces an economic crisis, declining investment, institutional weakness, and a growing lack of public trust. One of the principal causes of these challenges is corruption. Until honesty, trustworthiness, and accountability become national values, the dream of genuine progress will remain unfulfilled.
If Pakistan’s rulers truly seek the prayers and goodwill of the people, they must make legitimate public services easily accessible. Government offices should become centres of public service, commerce should be transparent, justice should be strengthened, and every official who exploits public office for personal enrichment should be held strictly accountable. History teaches us that nations are sustained not by power alone but by justice.
We pray to Allah Almighty to bless Pakistan with leaders who embody the justice of Umar ibn Al-Khattab, the generosity of Uthman ibn Affan, the fairness of Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with them all), and the honesty and trustworthiness exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). May Allah protect our rulers, ministers, government officials, and citizens from bribery, corruption, and every form of dishonesty, and make Pakistan a nation where every citizen receives their rightful due without fear, discrimination, or bribery.
Allah Almighty commands in the Holy Qur’an:
“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and, when you judge between people, to judge with justice.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:58)
If Pakistan’s rulers and public officials were to adopt this single Qur’anic command as the guiding principle of governance, the eradication of bribery, the promotion of justice, and the restoration of public confidence would undoubtedly become possible. This is the true spirit of an Islamic state, and it is the path to Pakistan’s stability, prosperity, and progress.
The writer is an old Aitchisonian who believes in freedom of expression, a freelance columnist, entrepreneur and social activist.