THIS refers to the news item ‘65pc of graft blamed on Punjab govt’ (Dec 15) and “Media, NAB take flak in parliament over ‘smear’”(Dec 15) wherein the government and politicians take umbrage and are indignant over being ‘unfairly’ targeted in the media for alleged financial wrongdoings and abuse of power.

And yet right alongside these headlines is another one that speaks for itself, reading “PM’s relative nominated for WB post”, concerning the appointment of the prime minister’s son-in-law as executive director of the World Bank despite opposition from the finance ministry, a post that carries a tax-free salary of $225,000 plus attractive perquisites.

The nominee was, until the induction of the PPP government four years ago, a grade 18 officer in the income tax department.

How the government can then claim transparency and probity in the conduct of its affairs, and malign the media for stating the obviously unchallengeable, defies logic.

ASAD SIDDIQI
Lahore