New Delhi: Taking a cue from Anna Hazare, a 68-year-old Pakistani businessman is set to go on a hunger strike in Islamabad from September 12. He claims his fast is in a bid to declare war on endemic corruption in his country.
Expressing his admiration for Anna Hazare, Jehangeer Akhtar complained that corruption was a far more serious disease in Pakistan. The activist now wants the Pakistan parliament to pass an anti-corruption law -- like what India is now planning.
"I demand that an anti-corruption bill be presented in the National Assembly," said Akhtar, who has been closely following the anti-corruption agitation in India.
He said the Pakistani bill should be on the lines of what ultimately gets passed in India's Parliament.
"Corruption in Pakistan is more than in India," Akhtar told IANS in a telephonic interview from Islamabad where he runs a photography business.
It is not the first time that Akhtar will be taking up cudgels for a cause.
"I once sat on a hunger strike for 22 days for the sake of traders in Islamabad," he recalled. It was about tenants being forcibly vacated.
On another occasion, he went on hunger strike for eight days.
Stating that his family does not interfere in his decisions, Akhtar said he was "very determined" to stage the hunger strike.
Apart from corruption, another issue that he wants to highlight during his hunger strike is Pakistan's soaring defense budget because of "the mindset that the stability of Pakistan is endangered due to India".
"A group of politicians propagate such mindset. The politicians are answerable...on which front are we in danger?"
Pakistan has hiked defence allocation to Rs.495 billion in a total budget of Rs. 2,504 billion (around $30 billion) for 2011-12.
"Is it not true that we started the 1965 war and lost East Pakistan in 1971 due to our follies?" he asked.
That is not all.
He also wants every district in Pakistan to be provided with infrastructure for education from primary to the intermediate levels with hostels.
Akhtar says he is for a stronger Lokpal Bill for India -- a demand being made by Hazare and his team.
"Indian public kah rahi hai tho hona chahiye (Indians are asking, so it should happen)."
He wants the Indian government to listen to the voice of Indians.
After seeing pictures of large numbers of Indians across the country rally in support of Hazare, Akhtar is convinced that the Gandhian has emerged as a hero.
According to him, there is widespread anger in Pakistan against corruption. A Transparency International Pakistan official said corruption was the root cause of poverty, illiteracy, terrorism, shortage of electricity, and poor governance in Pakistan.
Expressing his admiration for Anna Hazare, Jehangeer Akhtar complained that corruption was a far more serious disease in Pakistan. The activist now wants the Pakistan parliament to pass an anti-corruption law -- like what India is now planning.
"I demand that an anti-corruption bill be presented in the National Assembly," said Akhtar, who has been closely following the anti-corruption agitation in India.
He said the Pakistani bill should be on the lines of what ultimately gets passed in India's Parliament.
"Corruption in Pakistan is more than in India," Akhtar told IANS in a telephonic interview from Islamabad where he runs a photography business.
It is not the first time that Akhtar will be taking up cudgels for a cause.
"I once sat on a hunger strike for 22 days for the sake of traders in Islamabad," he recalled. It was about tenants being forcibly vacated.
On another occasion, he went on hunger strike for eight days.
Stating that his family does not interfere in his decisions, Akhtar said he was "very determined" to stage the hunger strike.
Apart from corruption, another issue that he wants to highlight during his hunger strike is Pakistan's soaring defense budget because of "the mindset that the stability of Pakistan is endangered due to India".
"A group of politicians propagate such mindset. The politicians are answerable...on which front are we in danger?"
Pakistan has hiked defence allocation to Rs.495 billion in a total budget of Rs. 2,504 billion (around $30 billion) for 2011-12.
"Is it not true that we started the 1965 war and lost East Pakistan in 1971 due to our follies?" he asked.
That is not all.
He also wants every district in Pakistan to be provided with infrastructure for education from primary to the intermediate levels with hostels.
Akhtar says he is for a stronger Lokpal Bill for India -- a demand being made by Hazare and his team.
"Indian public kah rahi hai tho hona chahiye (Indians are asking, so it should happen)."
He wants the Indian government to listen to the voice of Indians.
After seeing pictures of large numbers of Indians across the country rally in support of Hazare, Akhtar is convinced that the Gandhian has emerged as a hero.
According to him, there is widespread anger in Pakistan against corruption. A Transparency International Pakistan official said corruption was the root cause of poverty, illiteracy, terrorism, shortage of electricity, and poor governance in Pakistan.
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