‘Pakistan must learn from India on action against corruption’

ISLAMABAD - India has “lived up to its status as an emerging major player” by holding its leaders accountable and two top politicians facing corruption charges being told to resign, an editorial in a Pakistani daily said, adding that “Pakistan must do the same”.

An editorial in Express Tribune, titled “Learning from India”, said Thursday that two Indian politicians - Commonwealth Games chief organiser Suresh Kalmadi and outgoing Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan - were asked to resign Nov 9 by India’s ruling Congress party due to corruption charges.

Kalmadi was asked to hand in his resignation due to the embarrassment India suffered under his management of the Games. Chavan was told to step down for his involvement in a housing scam meant for war widows.

“In both cases, the crime has not yet been proven but the politicians have resigned to preserve the sanctities of the positions they held. India’s record for tackling corruption is by no means stellar but these actions are a step towards transparency and accountability, the hallmarks of democracy,” the editorial noted.

It pointed out that in Pakistan, “we ignore corruption charges”.

“Though corruption is endemic in both South Asian neighbours, India has lived up to its status as an emerging major player, ready for bigger and better things, by holding its leaders accountable.

“Pakistan must do the same to ensure that the cycle of corruption is broken once and for all,” the editorial said.