Author:
Publication: NDTV.com
Date: August 18, 2011
URL: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/anna-effect-crosses-border-into-pakistan-127401
Taking a cue from Anna Hazare, a 68-year-old
Pakistani businessman is set to go on a hunger strike in Islamabad from September
12. He claims his fast is in a bid to declare war on endemic corruption in
his country.
Expressing his admiration for Anna Hazare,
Jehangeer Akhtar complained that corruption was a far more serious disease
in Pakistan. The activist now wants the Pakistan parliament to pass an anti-corruption
law -- like what India is now planning.
"I demand that an anti-corruption bill
be presented in the National Assembly," said Akhtar, who has been closely
following the anti-corruption agitation in India.
He said the Pakistani bill should be on the
lines of what ultimately gets passed in India's Parliament.
"Corruption in Pakistan is more than
in India," Akhtar told IANS in a telephonic interview from Islamabad
where he runs a photography business.
It is not the first time that Akhtar will
be taking up cudgels for a cause.
"I once sat on a hunger strike for 22
days for the sake of traders in Islamabad," he recalled. It was about
tenants being forcibly vacated.
On another occasion, he went on hunger strike
for eight days.
Stating that his family does not interfere
in his decisions, Akhtar said he was "very determined" to stage
the hunger strike.
Apart from corruption, another issue that
he wants to highlight during his hunger strike is Pakistan's soaring defense
budget because of "the mindset that the stability of Pakistan is endangered
due to India".
"A group of politicians propagate such
mindset. The politicians are answerable...on which front are we in danger?"
Pakistan has hiked defence allocation to Rs.495
billion in a total budget of Rs. 2,504 billion (around $30 billion) for 2011-12.
"Is it not true that we started the 1965
war and lost East Pakistan in 1971 due to our follies?" he asked.
That is not all.
He also wants every district in Pakistan to
be provided with infrastructure for education from primary to the intermediate
levels with hostels.
Akhtar says he is for a stronger Lokpal Bill
for India -- a demand being made by Hazare and his team.
"Indian public kah rahi hai tho hona
chahiye (Indians are asking, so it should happen)."
He wants the Indian government to listen to
the voice of Indians.
After seeing pictures of large numbers of
Indians across the country rally in support of Hazare, Akhtar is convinced
that the Gandhian has emerged as a hero.
According to him, there is widespread anger
in Pakistan against corruption. A Transparency International Pakistan official
said corruption was the root cause of poverty, illiteracy, terrorism, shortage
of electricity, and poor governance in Pakistan.
