Corruption is an act of bribery or misuse of public position or power for the fulfillment of selfish motives or to gain personal gratifications or misuse of authority as a result of consideration of personal gain which need not be monetary. Legally corruption is the use of public power for private advantage in ways which transgresses some formal rule or law. Corruption in present times has spread over the entire society as a cancerous disease in all forms. The most common forms of corruption are taking of bribes (money offered in cash or kind or gift etc), nepotism (undue favor from holder of patronage to relatives), misappropriation (using the money of other people for one's own sake), and patronage (undue or wrong support by people in position to friends and family members and favoritism).
The scourge of corruption and white-collar crimes has become a cause of serious concern. The extent of such corruption in each is inversely proportional to the level of justice, accountability and indiscriminate application of law. As long as injustice and poverty prevail one cannot hope to eradicate corruption. A country based on the rule of law and equality caters for the genuine needs and wants of its members. But a country like Afghanistan where the rule of law is absent, the vacuum is filled by the rule of nuisance value. The rights, privileges and respect in such a society depend upon how much you can browbeat a man or woman. One may acquire an official position by virtue of which one is able to cause harm to others or to give them favor and advantage.
Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects all countries. Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development and contributes to governmental instability. Corruption attacks the foundation of democratic institutions by distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating bureaucratic quagmires whose only reason for existing is the soliciting of bribes.
Economic development is stunted because foreign direct investment is discouraged and small businesses within the country often find it impossible to overcome the start-up costs, required because of corruption.
Corruption inducted by the government functionaries or the corporate managers damages both national character and the economy. But what hurts the common man is the bribery he confronts at every step. He is required to pay not to get an undue advantage but more often, just to avoid harassment, injustice or delay. Thus it has become extortion, ever worse than bribe. Tragically, bribe is no longer viewed as a perversion of integrity. It is a necessity or need for both its giver and taker.
Corruption has become a way of life and it permeates every segment of our society. It is not endemic to the public sector alone but extends to private life as well. Defining corruption as a disease is wrong since it really is a symptom of a wider malaise. It is now a pervasive evil. The UN general Assembly has designated, 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise awareness linked to corruption and devise strategies to restrain it to minimum.
Corruption has become synonymous with our existing system and is pushing our nation to a dead end. Favoritism, nepotism, misappropriation of public fund, bad debts and misuse of power are on the rise. Corruption has gained roots in our country because of wrong decisions and weak policies of the governments. The agencies responsible for checking corruption have completely failed in their mission. Thus accountability seems non-existent.
Corruption today has become a way of life and it encompasses the ideological, moral and ethical values of society. It has become a part of our culture. Think about everyone else who is engaging in corruption .If we don't do the same thing, will not it be to our loss? If a thousand people are engaging in corruption, the one who doesn't is only hurting himself. Corruption is a series of developed reactions to the same situation that has strengthened with time and repetition.
Having been accustomed to mal-practices, the report that surfaced on November 28, 2012, by Independent Joint Anti-Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, publicizing the theft of about $935 million from the Kabul bank two years ago and the consequent foot-dragging in prosecuting the perpetrators in a multi-million dollar bank fraud, putting Afghanistan's credibility to serious questions, might not be embarrassing for ruling class in our country.
About 22 people were accused of embezzlement in the case including former chiefs Khalil Fruzi, its founder Sherkhan Farnoon and the siblings of President Hamid Karzai and the first vice-president, Mohammad Qasim Fahim, who were both shareholders. The stolen funds were concealed disguised as large expenses, bonuses, rents and salary payments to ghost staffers. Some funds were drained off out of the country either electronically or in cash aboard Pamir Airways, owned by shareholders linked to the bank. The report depicts poor or reluctant law enforcement, political interference, and questionable oversight by foreign auditors and institutionalized fraud by Kabul bank officials.
The subsequent week Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2012 floated up showing corruption continues to ravage Afghanistan's society. The perception index reflected, Afghanistan with inclusion to North Korea and Somalia once again clings to the bottom rung of the index. In these countries the lack of accountable leadership and effective public institutions underscores the need to take a much stronger stance against corruption.
Two thirds of the 176 countries ranked in the 2012 index score below 50, on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean), showing that public institutions need to be more transparent, and powerful officials more accountable. The three countries including Denmark, Finland and New Zealand tie for first place with scores of 90, helped by strong access to information systems and rules governing the behavior of those in public positions.
The lust for acquisition of undying wealth, power and dominance has multiplied men's needs and efforts. The act of corruption thus becomes so automatic in the human brain that it escapes the awareness of the perpetrator of corruption. Corruption in Afghanistan comes in as many forms as there could be. It comes in the form of bribery receiving and giving. It exists in the show of power and influence through real and concocted relationships with people in authority and the gains they can obtain from others. The worst form of corruption is intellectual and professional dishonesty to please or benefit a few individual at the cost of others. Equally dangerous is sycophancy which misleads people in decision making and has extremely harmful effects.
Laws and rules should be implemented with strictness and without prejudices, favoritism and nepotism, if needed; the outdated ones should be amended in order to check the acts of corruption. Anti-Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Committees should be given free hands to operate within the jurisdiction of constitution and vigilance should be increased so that people think twice before indulging in corrupt practices.