Ex-servicemen hold a protest rally against corruption in Mandi Bahauddin

Mandi Bahauddin: Ex-servicemen, lawyers, lady lawyers, lawyers’ clerks and litigants held a combined protest rally against corruption and corrupt officers here in judicial complex.

Speakers while addressing the rally criticized government for its failure for poor and weak governance.  They said government departments are full of corrupt and incompetent officials and without greasing their hands no citizen can get relief from them.

They said government was being run on the directions of a special group. Citizens have to pay bribe or approach some member of the group to get access to the concerned officer. They said revenue and police departments were the most corrupt. Policemen and revenue officials resort to malpractices with impunity. Public complaints against corrupt officials are always fail and at the maximum if someone are held on serious allegation he is let free after holding an inquiry and no punishment is given to the delinquent. About development in this district they said with regret that for the last eight year no worthwhile development scheme was executed in this district.

However they said some roads were renovated with low quality material as such they were again broken soon.

They said new DHQ Hospital with tertiary health facility was lying half way but despite repeated requests of citizens that has not been completed. They also alleged contract for small developments schemes like streets brick lining, construction of drains are normally given to cronies of MNAs/MPAs who do not spend even one fourth of allocated funds on such schemes. They called upon rulers to take strict measures to curb corruption and improve governance.

Speakers included Bashir Butt Advocate, Mian Anwar litigant and Sher Gondal. There after rally marched up to gate of main entrance of DCO office. The participants raised slogans against corrupt rulers and bureaucrats with demand rulers create fear of God in their hearts.

They also carried banners inscribed with “Zalmo luti hui qumi dolat wapis karo: and “corruption Mukao mulk bachao” After the rally Anti Corruption Movement (ACM) core group held a meeting where it was decided to hold similar rally against corruption next Saturday to expose poor performance of police.