Abdul Qayyum Kundi writes that FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi is being pressured by Finance Minister Hafeez Sheikh, and the PM is not supporting Zaidi. The finance ministry is blaming FBR for the revenue shortfall, but the blame lies with them for agreeing to an impossible target to appease IMF, he argues.
I am a member of the opposition and consider it my role to push the ruling party in the right policy direction. I try to do that by criticising flawed policy choices and offering some alternatives. However, it is evident that the arrogance of the rulers has blinded them to any sane advice.
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi is making good efforts to document the economy and plug tax evasion loopholes. But it seems that he is being pressured by PM's Adviser on Finance Hafeez Sheikh, and the PM is not supporting Zaidi. The finance ministry is blaming FBR for the revenue shortfall, but the blame lies with the former for agreeing to an impossible target to appease the IMF. There are reports that efforts are underway to replace Zaidi. His replacement would be a loss and reversal of tax reforms that he introduced.
Sometimes reformative measures are painful and take time to show results. And no reform can succeed until it has full support and backing of the head of government. Without such support, the mafias that have long been looting this nation cannot be uprooted.
One of the reasons why I have never supported Imran Khan, even when I was in PTI, is that he has no spine to stand up to pressure. He is always more interested in accolades for himself rather than do the right thing. He could not support his own party member Justice Wajihuddin who issued a verdict, as head of party election tribunal, to suspend membership of those who violated party elections. He also pressured Tasneem Noorani to resign as the party election commissioner.
Moreover, Imran Khan could not support KP Ehtisab Commissioner Gen Hamid Khan when he wanted to act against the corrupt practices of KP provincial government ministers. Most recently, he has failed to contain mafias. In the last 18 months, the government has only served interests of the mafias domestically and allowed the loss of sovereignty to foreign powers. The poor and middle class faces high inflation and is expected to carry the burden of a failed economy.
Pakistani political parties are organised in such a manner that talented and capable people have no chance to get to the top of the ladder. I am not suggesting that there are no capable politicians, but they are few and far between. There are so many issues with the current republic that it cannot be fixed through amendments in the constitution or repeating election exercise. The need is to reform the whole democratic structure which is only possible through the creation of a second republic.
Even Russian President Putin realised this and has embarked on the process of reformation by creating a new republic. We are afraid to catch the bull by the horn and embark on a journey to a better future. Only a well organised republic can help achieve peace and prosperity for all including the elites that stash their wealth abroad and live as second class citizens in foreign lands.
I am a member of the opposition and consider it my role to push the ruling party in the right policy direction. I try to do that by criticising flawed policy choices and offering some alternatives. However, it is evident that the arrogance of the rulers has blinded them to any sane advice.
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi is making good efforts to document the economy and plug tax evasion loopholes. But it seems that he is being pressured by PM's Adviser on Finance Hafeez Sheikh, and the PM is not supporting Zaidi. The finance ministry is blaming FBR for the revenue shortfall, but the blame lies with the former for agreeing to an impossible target to appease the IMF. There are reports that efforts are underway to replace Zaidi. His replacement would be a loss and reversal of tax reforms that he introduced.
Sometimes reformative measures are painful and take time to show results. And no reform can succeed until it has full support and backing of the head of government. Without such support, the mafias that have long been looting this nation cannot be uprooted.
One of the reasons why I have never supported Imran Khan, even when I was in PTI, is that he has no spine to stand up to pressure. He is always more interested in accolades for himself rather than do the right thing. He could not support his own party member Justice Wajihuddin who issued a verdict, as head of party election tribunal, to suspend membership of those who violated party elections. He also pressured Tasneem Noorani to resign as the party election commissioner.
Moreover, Imran Khan could not support KP Ehtisab Commissioner Gen Hamid Khan when he wanted to act against the corrupt practices of KP provincial government ministers. Most recently, he has failed to contain mafias. In the last 18 months, the government has only served interests of the mafias domestically and allowed the loss of sovereignty to foreign powers. The poor and middle class faces high inflation and is expected to carry the burden of a failed economy.
Pakistani political parties are organised in such a manner that talented and capable people have no chance to get to the top of the ladder. I am not suggesting that there are no capable politicians, but they are few and far between. There are so many issues with the current republic that it cannot be fixed through amendments in the constitution or repeating election exercise. The need is to reform the whole democratic structure which is only possible through the creation of a second republic.
Even Russian President Putin realised this and has embarked on the process of reformation by creating a new republic. We are afraid to catch the bull by the horn and embark on a journey to a better future. Only a well organised republic can help achieve peace and prosperity for all including the elites that stash their wealth abroad and live as second class citizens in foreign lands.