Criticality of bureaucracy

Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) government have been slow to learn what for them has proved the painful lesson that running the government, let alone good governance, is simply impossible without the cooperation and willingness of the bureaucracy. This tilt owes its origins to the narrative of the PTI before it came to power last year (and continuing until now even after) that the bureaucracy was beholden to, if not an active supporter of, the previous government of the Sharifs. This attitude was echoed in the approach of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in treating leading bureaucrats who had served under the Sharif brothers at the Centre and in Punjab as 'collaborators' in the alleged corruption of the previous government. NAB set about arresting and publicly humiliating civil servants 'tainted' by association with the previous government in a manner that produced fear and uncertainty in the ranks of civil servants. The result was an almost complete paralysis of the government machinery, since bureaucrats could not be certain who would be next on NAB's radar. Even decisions taken in good faith and that may have turned out to be erroneous began to be treated as felonies and misdemeanors, a development that persuaded the bureaucracy to retreat behind a 'safety first' attitude that froze critical decision-making and implementation. The real loser as a result was the incumbent PTI government. To add to the malaise, civil servants were at a loss in the face of the dizzying speed with which the government changed or reversed its own decisions. Recently, the federal secretaries met and prepared a draft of amendments to NAB law to be presented to the PM for approval. Amongst other recommendations, the draft suggested that responsibility be shifted to the federal government to apply NAB's law in cases involving more than Rs 500 million rather than the President or NAB chairman, as has been the practice so far. Further, that NAB's authority to summon government officials be removed, NAB's remand period be restricted to 14 days instead of the 90 days at present, provincial courts be given a shorter time frame to determine a case, and a scrutiny committee comprising secretaries of the cabinet and establishment divisions, chairman FBR, chairman SECP, a law official and secretary of the concerned division replace the present one headed by the chairman NAB. No member of the civil service be arrested without the approval of this reconstituted scrutiny committee, which should ensure that a full investigation is initiated. In short, the federal secretaries argued for taking action against bureaucrats on the basis of evidence rather than perception.

It is late but welcome that the government has realised what is in its own best interests. There are still lingering reservations though, especially if the graceless manner in which a former DG FIA has been forced to resign in protest at being transferred on the eve of his retirement. However, if a fresh breeze is indeed starting to blow away the past preconceived notions and biases of the incumbents, and hopefully the worst of its past attitudes and practices, this is indeed all to the good. The massive reshuffle going on in the bureaucracy of late is a sign of the change, since so-called blue-eyed boys of the previous government are being called upon once more to take charge of the areas of their expertise. In the words of Imran Khan himself while speaking to a meeting with recently promoted officers, these promotions have been done purely on merit and the government expects the bureaucracy to work hard in the country's interest. Bias and prejudice, laced with the acidic practices of NAB, have done no favour to this government or its governance. Bitter as it is, the lesson has to be learnt that civil servants are not necessarily politically aligned, even if appearances suggest so. They serve whichever government is in power. For a government that is in power for the first time, that lesson it seems is by now being well learnt.