DONALD Trump’s victory And Pakistan

DONALD Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections has momentarily shifted attention away from a case of fundamental import being heard in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. While substantive issues regarding the case, such as the actual or beneficial ownership of offshore companies and associated assets in question, whether the underlying money used for these transactions was obtained by legal means or not, whether the monies and assets were declared in tax and wealth returns in Pakistan, and how and when the money was transferred abroad, are all before the honorable court and therefore sub judice, the importance of the case vests in whether the ultimate verdict helps or harms Pakistan’s institutional development.

Pakistan’s institutional framework — the ability and willingness of the state to frame laws and policies for public good, to enforce its writ, and to prosecute violations of the laws of the land — has weakened over a period of time. The atrophy appears to have accelerated since 2008 with the second coming of elected kleptocracy — though non-civilian governments have been guilty of self-serving transgressions and violations too.

A principal manifestation of a weak institutional framework is the ability of ruling power elites to influence or usurp state institutions and public policy for private gain, effectively resulting in the privatisation of public policy. While individuals or some segments within society benefit, this outcome is welfare-destroying for society at large.