Believe it or not

Seeing how our rulers squander public money, it is interesting to note how some other personalities were very conscious of using funds; but first an instance where public money should have been spent.

In one of my columns long ago I had expressed serious reservations on the way the late president, Iskander Mirza, had been deported to London. He was the president and was illegally bundled out of the country. He should have been given a flat in a reasonable area in London with a pension of a few hundred Pounds. That would have saved him from the ignominy of having to serve in an Indian restaurant to earn a living. Late Qudrutullah Shahab mentioned his pitiable situation.

On the positive side, the narrative by Ayub Khan’s Naval ADC, Vice Admiral (r) Ahmed Tasnim, reflects the former’s honesty and integrity. It was Capt Ahmed Tasnim who, using our submarine PNS Hangor, torpedoed the Indian naval ship INS Khukri. He had a brilliant career, retiring as vice admiral, and received many civil and military awards. He is the only naval officer to have earned SJ twice. He has been a prolific writer with many books to his name.

The following is his write-up of an official visit to the US: “We travelled by [a] PIA commercial flight which proceeded on schedule with a full load of passengers. Ayub Khan shook hands with every passenger once the flight was airborne. The president shared the toilet with other first class passengers and no one was offloaded for any reason. For the transit stop at London (both ways), the president stayed with the high commissioner and I roughed it out in a small room next door.

“There were only about a dozen people in the official delegation, including one lady (daughter Nasim). No maids. She will help herself with a borrowed iron from the hotel. Only one batman, Havaldar Abdus Salam. For short trips outside Washington needing change of dress, etc, the president helped himself, politely asking for my assistance, if required. Anybody taking a spouse in the delegation paid for it. A strict code of conduct was expected from delegation members, including personal staff.

“Though unbelievable, yet it is true, the president never went shopping. Some ties and shirts were purchased by personal staff from his personal account. During my tenure at least, shopping for the president never exceeded a couple of hundred pounds. Let me add another point; during Ayub Khan’s time, the office of ADCs and their living quarters were not air-conditioned, as we were not entitled. Now compare the royal style of our rulers from 1972 onwards ….. of course present ones have beaten all record for spending taxpayers’ money.” (Courtesy my dear friend, Sardar Najmus Saqib Khan.)

The second example is of US President Harry S Truman, who became president unexpectedly when President Roosevelt expired in office. “Harry Truman was a different kind of president. He probably made as many, or more, important decisions regarding our nation’s history as any of the other 42 presidents preceding him. The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence, Missouri. His wife had inherited the house from her parents and, other than their years in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.

“When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a US Army pension, reported to have been $ 13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps, granted him an ‘allowance’ and later, a retroactive pension of $ 25,000 per year. After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home by themselves. There was no Secret Service following them.

“When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating: ‘You don’t want me. You want the office of the President and that doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it’s not for sale.’ Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing: ‘I don’t consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise.’

“As president, he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food. Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the presidency, resulting in untold wealth.” (Courtesy my former very competent PSO, Maj Islamul Haq.)

The third case was told to me by my respected, dear friend, Wajid Ali (Shahji), brother of Babar Ali of Packages and LUMS. After Partition, Shah Sahib lived in Karachi in a bungalow on the road to Marriott Hotel, just opposite Metropole Hotel. Around the corner was the residence of the PM,  Liaquat Ali Khan. Shah Sahib told the story in these words:

“It was the PM’s habit to send his servant to invite me to tea when he got back from work. He would discuss national affairs with me (law and order, business, public opinions, etc.) One day, after visiting him and reaching back home, the PM’s servant again came and said the PM would like to see me again. I was surprised and assumed that it must be something important.

“I went there and the PM received me, held my hand and took me to the door opening into the back garden. He pointed to a small marble fountain in operation. I said it was beautiful. The PM said: ‘Shah Sahib, my wife had it erected without my knowledge at a cost of Rs6,000. It is public money. I can’t use it for personal luxuries. I will have to refund it to the government in monthly instalments.’

“I had tears in my eyes and my throat choked. The biggest landlord of undivided India could now not afford Rs6,000. How ironic!”

We should dig up the three gentlemen and clone them in order to put our house in order!