Adil Najam
It seems that the PPP government has finally found its equivalent to Wasi Zafar (the absurd, and often obnoxious, Law Minister in Gen. Musharraf’s government; here and here). Listen to the Rt. Hon. Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi, Federal Minister for Defence Production, proclaiming that it is the “political right” of every politician to do corruption: “yaar, karrapshun pay humara haq nahiN hai, aur unn ka hai!”:
In all fairness, I should confess that there is a certain bholla-pun and naivety in Mr. Jatoi that is markedly different from the viciousness of Mr. Zafar.
Minister Jatoi does seem to be trying (badly) to make a argument – a silly argument, indeed; but an argument nonetheless. But he may also have hit on a real truth. Not only because so many politicians do indeed believe what he has naively said but even more because we have indeed created a system of governance (through the actions of the politicians, of the military and through the reactions – or lack thereof – from the courts and the media) that smacks of political immunity for the corrupt. Maybe we should listen to what he is saying more carefully, after all.
Of course, the host – Javed Chaudhry – is having a field day; and enjoying it too. A big part of this is the host’s inappropriate badgering and the game of trying to ‘corner the guest’ rather than having a conversation. Its a game played by all our leading hosts. But the fact of the matter is that Mr. Jatoi does himself no favors and looses his cool again and again. Even when the host shows some tarss on the guest, the Minister just keeps digging himself into deeper holes.
Seems like this is a pattern with Minister Jatoi, since he keeps coming for more from Javed Chaudhry. Watch them here too, as the host corners Mr. Jatoi to proclaim that he is himself corrupt (around min. 5:50). And, then, again, dig himself even deeper in a hole – trying to make a ‘point’ but making a fool of himself instead, even as the host tries to give him a way out.
And if you want more, see the next segment, when both Mr. Chaudhry and Mr. Jatoi keep at it.
PPP is actually hub of crooks in this government,from top to bottom and this was just another crook ,people who have some vision cant even talk to zardari .
This is more accurate statement:
NRO list out, 34 politicians among 8,000 beneficiaries
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-l ibrary/dawn/news/pakistan/04–nro-qs-10
We blame politicians unfairly..%age wise they are least of our problem :-)
What on the name of God is going on in this country!! Although Mr. Jatoi was shamefully confessing the corruption allegations for his party & himself but I do agree with Adil that he still somehow seemed ‘naive’ doing that.. What a contradiction indeed! Mr. Jatoi’s perilous ‘naiveness’ does reflect one bitter reality about Pakistan and that is his public confessions on a tv channel can not harm him or his political buddies. Surprisingly, his ‘honest’ arguments made me laugh at some points :)
To all those who are defending this man and accusing Adil and the host of the TV show should not forget that this man was elected BY the people and he works FOR the people. This is the fundamental truth that people forget when they question the questioner. Politicians like this should not only be badgered by the host but also by the public in a public place.
How dare he say with a serious and straight face that he has the right to corruption, without any remorse. I know he has no shame but the people who are defending him are shameless to the extreme.
He is stealing from you and me, and yet you find nothing wrong with it? You may not mind someone stealing from you as I am not aware how you made your money but I get paid for an honest days work and my pocket is not for pickpockets like him or his ilk.
Un-******believable!
Here starts the ends of the Government ……….. When they openly confess their crimes and portray them like they have all rights to do any thing ………….. but actually they are wrong ……….. lets see what happens to all these Lantis (baseless, characterless)