The all pervasive institution of Ombudsman

Against this murky backdrop of our national affairs comes up the Ombudsman, Federal and Provincial, as the sixth pillar of good governance. Unfortunately, the enthusiasm with which these offices were established during seventies died down with the passage of time. To begin with they proved to be highly effective instruments for quick and fair redress of the grievances of the common man against the high-handedness of the corrupt officials. Their rejuvenation is the need of the hour. The overwhelming corrupt climate of the statehood has neutralized them and made them ineffective. People in power purposely fail to give them the required amount of publicity so that citizens may not come to know about their scope and the kind of service they can ender for their benefit. It is imperative that not only their scope be expanded but their organizational set up may also be enlarged. They should be headed and staffed by right, competent and God fearing persons and paid many times higher salaries as compared to other equivalent grades so that they are not lured by the temptations for side deals by unscrupulous officials. They should be completely independent with powers to penalize those against whom charges of corruption are proved. It should have branch office in each District Headquarter. It should strike such respect and terror in the hearts of the corrupt that they think hundred and one times before indulging in any malpractice.