The hydra of corruption

ARTICLE: Hydra is a Greek poisonous monster that had many heads. The problem was that when you tried to cut one head, two more would grow. Reminds one of the ills and ails of the country. Just when you think one problem is controlled, two more grow out. Just when you think one sector is rising, two others start falling. Just when you think one corrupt hole is plugged, two more holes dig out. That is why for as long as we remember health, education, corruption have been major issues. Similarly, as long as we remember there have been plenty of policies and projects to fill these holes only to find that at the end things get worse than better. That raises the question of why this country seems to have an ability to come up with worsening deficits, deteriorating amenities and unlimited corruption. The answer may lie in the hydra effect. The answer may lie in the mafia impact.

Mafia is a network of organized-crime groups originally based in Italy and America, evolved over centuries in Sicily, an island ruled until the mid-19th century by a long line of foreign invaders. Over the period of time these mafias have developed into illegal networks operating through legal means and channels. Dictionary defines mafia as "a hierarchically structured secret organisation allegedly engaged in smuggling, racketeering, trafficking in narcotics, and other criminal activities. A popular spirit of hostility to legal restraint and to the law, often manifesting itself in criminal acts." They are the underworld operating through the worldly ways. From mobsters who could be hounded and captured, to infiltrators in institutions, mafias are very hard to be nailed, caught and penalized in today's world.

Mafias are perpetrators of organized crime. They are promoters of policy manipulators. They are torch bearers of misinformation, fudged facts and fake encounters. The key word is "organized" crime. This is not crime where armed men combat with other mobsters but this a crime in higher places with higher stakes. This is a crime which is committed by crime eliminators. This is a crime that commits crime while protecting the laws. This is a crime that legitimizes illegitimacy with propaganda, rule distortion and voice suppression. So how do mafias operate? They are organized and work through mostly established "respected" organizations. As stated in God Father Triology, "The richest man is the one with the most powerful friends". There 5 basic power centers through which the Mafias amass their wealth and power:

1. Political patronage- The mafias' members include politicians, ex and serving. These politicians look after the interest of these mafias and in return are rewarded in cash and kind by mafias. Rich tycoons with dubious backgrounds are always seen around politicians, as bookies are seen around sports stars. They give expensive gifts to politicians and their families, fund their luxury holidays and indulge them in designer brand shopping. The politicians in return make policies and laws that either absolve the mafias of their crimes or give them substantial concessions in their operations.

2. Bureaucratic manipulation-Mafias operate through the legal channels. Mega projects run by government need bureaucracy as a stakeholder. They target top bureaucrats of top ministries and connect to them with offerings which include a variety of incentives both in money and privileges. These bureaucrats misuse their own superior knowledge and lack of knowledge of the politicians. They create project summaries that escalate costs, allocate resources in a manner that the pre-designated parties win the tenders regardless of merit.

3. Industry network- These mafias have over a period of time developed industries for making more money or dumping black money that needs to have a whitening source. Nearly every major politician of Pakistan will have shares in food, steel and sugar industries. The sugar mill association then through the bureaucrats and the politicians create policies to favour themselves. The present enquiry going on in sugar mills has "discovered" that the amount of subsidy the mills received is many times more than the amount of tax paid.

4. Civil Society facilitation-Perhaps the most subtle mafia is the civil society intellectuals and activists. Many non-government organizations under the guise of their "rights based" agenda facilitate these mafias by delegitimizing the cause of those who are trying to nail these mafias under the guise of freedom of expression, etc. They are activists with a sponsored cause. The other part of the civil society like respected lawyers, bar councils, associations are all used for influencing their agendas. Some of these otherwise respected lawyers will be engaged as legal counsel for the most corrupt politicians. They would appear on TV to give legal opinions that are cleverly legal but unethical.

5. Media Beneficiaries- Those who control media control public opinion. Media is a great weapon to exercise clout. Either by directly controlling media or by rewarding the loud voices in media they swing public opinion in their favour. Previous governments made top anchors/columnists who spread their messages as heads of public institutes. They were appointed the heads of PTV, PCB, PEMRA, PHA etc, or appointed as advisors or ambassadors. In return, they allegedly helped in covering their corruption and spreading the narrative of a failed government. Also these mafias help supportive channels by giving them heavy advertising money to sing their songs.

The crude form of mobster mafias that were initiated in Sicily and were thus known as Sicilian mafia have evolved since then to a more organized covert mafia. The new face of mafias is operating through 5th generation hybrid warfare by using political and organized crime infiltration. Pakistan has been a breeding ground for that. By using the above five sectors a narrative is being built of Pakistani government being an economic failure, being authoritarian and curbing media freedom and women rights and bending towards religiosity by having one curriculum that is going to be Urdu driven.

The reality is quite different from this. These very mafias are the propagators of status quo. Imagine how their power and control will be diluted if the masses become empowered to see through their made-up respectability and intellect. That is why the hydra effect is so potent. When one mafia is controlled 4 more raise their head. They know their decades-long game is in danger. The challenge of the government and state lies in creating a counter narrative that portrays the independent and reforming Pakistan despite the multiple hydras playing the hard-core spoiler status quo role.

(The writer can be reached at [email protected])

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020