A criminal who has been caught in one of the most publicized corruption deal is brought inside the court by the National Accountability Bureau with VIP protocol. The judge asks the NAB Chairman why has a criminal been given VIP protocol? No response. The judge again asks the NAB Chairman that does he not feel embarrassed or he does not know the meaning of embarrassment. No response. But natural because a response is only triggered to such questions if you have the ability to feel. If you have become so hardened that you shrug your shoulders and laconically walk off with zero remorse it just shows the complete lack of humanity. If this individual happens to be the head of a major institution that is responsible for reducing corruption in the country, then this attitude assumes alarming proportions. The recent focus on accountability and merit has exposed the monumental challenge we are facing, ie trying to preach the unpreachable. Thus it was tragic to hear the honourable judge of the Supreme Court say that after this attitude and response of the Chairman he has signed NAB’s death certificate on 21st February 2017.
Two organizations have dominated the discussion of demise in recent times. NAB and PIA. Since the fatal ATR crash the institution has become the cause of mockery. The image of goats being sacrificed before takeoff may have caused a great deal of mirth on social media but is a reality that is inescapable. The malfunctioning of the institution is not just technical but organizational. The physical demise of ATR 611 was preceded by the financial and organizational demise. PIA has accumulated losses of Rs 200 billion and at an average annual loss of Rs 30 billion it is a case study of “how to destroy a good institution”. Ahsan Iqbal the minister of Planning after holding two meetings, a special panel of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet is struggling to find a way forward due to the “non-serious approach of PIA’s top management. Unprofessional approach, poor management practices, and lack of seriousness have led to the downfall of PIA,” said Ahsan Iqbal. The question is why has the government hired people who are not able to perform “seriously”. The non-seriousness may be a consequence of incompetence or competent people who find it difficult to perform due to the political interference.
Airlines are no longer in the air transport business, they are in the hospitality business where service levels match top class hotels. The aircrafts in all airlines are made by two aircraft makers ie Boeing and Airbus so there is little to choose in the aircraft shape an design. What differentiates them is the on ground and in the air treatment. Emirates has become a symbol of comfort, courtesy and care. Singapore airline is “Smiles in the air”. However it is rare to find the same professionalism and enthusiasm in PIA at all levels of service.
The planes of PIA that have been leased to Turks have foreign faces in them and it is but natural for the PIA employees to feel inferior and demotivated as they see no rewards and growth for people giving in their best. The constant desecration of merit right from the top to the bottom has turned the organization into a political dumping ground. From Shujaat Azeem to now probably Sardar Mehtab Abbasi the top positions go to political people who need to be appeased for their own or their brother’s services rendered. Competent people who are more professional normally cannot last too long as they find themselves amidst incompetence and a lack of empowerment. Azam Saigol resigned after the ATR crash and thus when Minister of Planning rightly points out that it is non-serious management of PIA that has caused this situation he conveniently forgets to explain the political appointees factor.
This is a tale of two institutions that are now going to have another great joint venture. NAB and PIA have joined hands to eradicate corruption in Pakistan through a corruption awareness campaign. Under the awareness and prevention campaign, NAB has been engaging different governmental, non-governmental organizations, media, civil society and others in order to aware people of the ill effects of corruption. Chairman NAB has said as per the positive feedback received from various segments of society, the NAB’s campaign on “say no to corruption” had been effectively and positively highlighted in print and electronic media which has been appreciated by all segments of society. The proposal, tabled by the Awareness & Prevention Division of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), had been forwarded to PIA with the request that songs against corruption be made mandatory during flights. The proposal also asks that flight stewards read out “anti-corruption messages” to send across an “effective message to God-fearing passengers”, a senior NAB official said. Before takeoff, as passengers pray for a safe journey, air hostesses will read out messages regarding the curse of corruption and the passenger will resolve not to commit corruption.
This is the amazing strategy and plan for eradicating corruption of these two “wise and noble” institutions. No wonder with this level of thinking and approach these institutions have become role models of deliberate institutional degradation. Imagine the irony that while PIA airhostesses may be singing anti-corruption songs on the behest of NAB the London security diverted a PIA flight under aircraft security to Stanstead airport on charges of carrying a man who had committed fraud in UK. This mysterious diversion by a foreign country was quite unique and inconvenienced the passengers for hours who were flying with this airline without food and service. However, this diversion remains a mystery and nobody knows what really was the reason of this security breach.
The biggest asset of any institution is its trust. Organizations lose trust when what it promises and what it delivers is different. PIA for years has had this slogan of “Great people to fly with” and in the past, that is how it was. But that was once upon a time. Great people have been infiltrated with dubious people at the top whose competence test is based on their skills to prove their closeness to the ruling family and its deputy rulers. NAB has run a robust campaign that has lined huge billboards and newspapers with taxpayer’s money splashing their slogan “Say No to Corruption”. However, when your actions are contrary to your promises these institutions become as soulless as the people who head them. That is why the Supreme Court in the country was compelled to observe that the corruption-infested NAB (National Accountability Bureau) should write on its banners ‘Say Yes to Corruption’.
The writer is a columnist and analyst and can be reached at [email protected]