ISLAMABAD:
President Dr. Arif Alvi in first year of his office, decrated 126 prominent Pakistanis and distinguished foreign citizens with Presidential civil awards on March 23, the country’s Republic Day.
This yeaar too, some names choosen for the honours caused a stir about their eligibility. The criticism started immediately after names of nominees became public. It continues making rounds almost a week after the ceremony was held, espcailly in social media.
After the list of this year’s recipients of these honors was finalized questions were raised about “who is chosen and why?”
Lacking full agreement in mind with the names chosen and yet struggling to understand the logic behind the list so composed, many political commentators and analysts argue that multiple names on the list of honors were chosen either because of ‘an error of judgment’ or a case of ‘harvesting the fruits of political sweat’.
This possible scenario did not bring any pride to the state or its leadership because, for such a listing, one normally neither commits an “error of judgment” nor are the fruits of any “political sweat” to be rewarded in such a manner by anybody in the name of the state.
The correctness of this argument lies in the fact that these awards should be apolitical in nature and must reflect only the “impartial” readiness of the state to acknowledge those who served it best from home and abroad.
It is the Cabinet Secretariat and the President House that mutually decide who deserves the official recognition through Presidential award.
Country’s eminent civil servants, entrepreneurs, showbiz personalities, scholars, engineers, doctors and other professionals were expecting merit would prevail over nepotism this time-a tall claim that brought Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf (PTI) government into power through last year’s elections.
Contrary to their expectations, debate has been going on in the serious circles on selection of some names.
How could the incumbent government ignore the services of legendaries from different walks of life? Can those accuse and facing criminal cases in court be given high-status civil award? What criteria of selection was adopted to recognize the services and performance of showbiz personalities?.
These were common but serious questions from serious segments of society who have witnessed flouting of merit by successive governments.
Actress Mahwish Hyatt was bestowed with third highest award ‘Sitara-e- Imtiaz’. The actress Hyatt got fame performing on silver screen in a play ‘Meray Qatil Meray Dildar’. Soon she jumped into the film industry and gave good performance in different Pakistani films like ‘Na Maloom Afrad’, ‘Jawani Phir Nahin Ani’, ‘Actor in Law’, ‘Punjab Nahin Jaon Gi’, ‘Jawani Phir Nahin Ani 2’ and Load Wedding.
She also appeared in several Television plays in lead roles in her budding career. These include ‘Phir Chand pe Dastak’, ‘Mirat-ul-Aroos’, ‘Kabhi Kabhi’, ‘Ishq Mein Teray Kami Reh Gayi’ and Dil Lagi etc . Her fame aside, showbiz and public circles are questioning why the young actress was given preference over a number of legendaries.
They say people like Qazi Wajid, Rohi Bano, Fahmeda Riaz (Urdu Poet),Ali Ejaz, Javed Kodu, Asma Jahangir (social activist), Mansoor Ahmed (Hockey Olympian) Sharmeen (Women cricketer) were among the names who carried much higher credentials. Why these straight away ignored by the nomination team.
Similarly, award that has broached debate in different circles is Karachi based business tycoon, the chairman AKD group. Aqeel Karim Dadehi. He was given third highest civil award Sitara-e-Imtiaz for this year’s ceremony.
AKD group is among the leading brokerage house business groups of the country. It is said that the group has strong influence not only in business but in political clique.
Dadehi’s name came to limelight in local and international media as one of the accused in stock market manipulation scam involving billions of rupees. The anti-corruption watchdog, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested former chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Tauqir Sadiq a close relative of Jahangir Badar (late) former secretary general Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and former federal minister of petroleum and natural resources Dr. Asim Hussain, in the same high profile scam
The famous OGRA scam case is under trial in the NAB court of Justice Muhammad Bashir.
Questions are being raised that how any accused in criminal case could be conferred with the 3rd highest civil award of the country? Is it justified that an accused facing criminal case in accountability court and yet to be absolved of charges decorated with one of the highest awards. The government could have waited till Dadehi got clean chit from courts of law, and nominated him for the accolades after that
Another nomination being debated is one of the highest award Pride of Performance to actress Reema Khan.
Many in the public circles question what meritorious contribution for nation in Art and Culture was made by this showbiz personality when compared with many other legends.
