Pakistanis calling Imran Khan ‘corruption king' after latest Transparency report

New Delhi: Pakistan’s score in Transparency International Corruption Perception Index 2021 has fallen 16 spots to 140, from 124 in 2020, out of 180 countries. The index ranks countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of zero, highly corrupt, to 100, very clean.

During an interview with Geo News Tuesday, Ansar Abbasi, journalist, and columnist associated with The News International said, “It is an unfortunate incident that we have defeated 16 countries in corruption. And unlike last year’s controversy over these surveys being conducted before 2017, the organisation has clearly stated that for this index, the surveys were carried out in 2020-21”.

“While the corruption levels remain at a standstill worldwide, with 86 per cent of the countries making little to no progress in the last 10 years, Transparency International in its Index revealed that the absence of “rule of law” and “state capture” has resulted in substantial low CPI score of Pakistan”, Pakistan daily Dawn reported.

Many Pakistanis slammed Prime Minister Imran Khan for “maintaining its downward trajectory” on the index and called him “Corruption King Imran Khan”, while others trend #CorruPTIon on Twitter.

Tabdeeli? Pakistan slides 16 spots on corruption perceptions index, now ranks 140 out of 180 countries: report https://t.co/rgTOlyFyUA

— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) January 25, 2022

Users also shared videos of Khan quoting this very index to criticise the PML(N) government and “promote his anti-corruption mantra”.

While one user shared Imran Khan’s clip with the caption, “2021 Corruption Perception Index. Pakistan rank 140/180 #SaafChaliShafafChaliTahreekeInsaafChali”, another said, “Imran Khan used to show Transparency International reports to mock PPP and PML-N to promote his anti corruption mantra. Now under his watch Pakistan has climbed up corruption index 16 ladders and reached 140 index”.

2021 Corruption Perception Index

Pakistan rank 140/180 #SaafChaliShafafChaliTahreekeInsaafChali pic.twitter.com/qW4Ik5WKyg

— Sadiajaved (@Sadiajavedppp) January 25, 2022

Imran Khan used to show Transparency International reports to mock PPP and PML-N to promote his anti corruption mantra. Now under his watch Pakistan has climbed up corruption index 16 ladders and reached 140 index. https://t.co/cILfRsJNt9

— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) January 25, 2022

PML(N) senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan has submitted the adjournment motion in the Senate to discuss the transparency international report on corruption.

I on behalf of the joint opposition have submitted the adjournment motion in the senate to discuss the transparency international report on corruption.Pakistan ranking has gone down by 16 points.The single biggest jump in corruption index making the Imran gov the most corrupt gov pic.twitter.com/J7HEIFfLCN

— Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan (@afnanullahkh) January 25, 2022

“PTI govt has broken all records of corruption in the last 20 years. Among Asia-pacific region, Pakistan has unfortunately been ranked as the 5th most corrupt country,” wrote Shehbaz Sharif, Leader of the Opposition in the Pakistan National Assembly, adding that,  “Corruption rampant in ‘Naya’ Pakistan of “anti-corruption Mujahid”.

Corruption rampant in ‘Naya’ Pakistan of “anti-corruption Mujahid”. According to Transparency International, PTI govt has broken all records of corruption in the last 20 years. Among Asia-pacific region, Pakistan has unfortunately been ranked as the 5th most corrupt country. pic.twitter.com/I9dt98bBUI

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 25, 2022

Pakistani journalist and columnist Hamid Mir also posted a short clip of him interviewing Khan where the prime minister told Mir he refused to join General Musharaf’s party because of its “corrupt” leadership.

Mir posted the short clip with the caption: “Imran Khan once said he didn’t join establishment brings thieves and robbers into the government so I did not become part of the government then he came to the government and the World Cup of Corruption Dia is 140th in Corruption and 145th in Free Press Index”.

ایک زمانے میں خان صاحب کہا کرتے تھے کہ اسٹیبلشمنٹ چوروں اور ڈاکوؤں کو حکومت میں لاتی ہے اس لئے میں حکومت کا حصہ نہیں بنا پھر وہ 2018 میں خودبخود حکومت میں آ گئے اور 2022 میں انہوں نے کرپشن کا ورلڈ کپ جیت کر سب کو سرخرو کر دیا کرپشن میں 140واں نمبر فری پریس انڈیکس میں 145 واں نمبر pic.twitter.com/f5UT7o3OkR

— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) January 25, 2022

Another wrote, “Imran Khan used to show Transparency International reports to mock PPP and PML-N to promote his anti corruption mantra. Now under his watch Pakistan has climbed up corruption index 16 ladders and reached 140 index”.

Imran Khan used to show Transparency International reports to mock PPP and PML-N to promote his anti corruption mantra. Now under his watch Pakistan has climbed up corruption index 16 ladders and reached 140 index. https://t.co/cILfRsJNt9

— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) January 25, 2022

Calling it “The new Pakistan”, a user wrote, “Corruption Perception Index ن دور۔ 117 New Pakistan 140. It may be recalled that in the last five years, the Corruption Perception Index has improved by 21 ranks. And the decline of 23 ranks in the Khan government”.

کرپشن پرسیپشن انڈیکس

ن دور۔ 117

نیا پاکستان 140

یاد رہے ن کے پانچ سال مین کرپشن پرسپشن انڈیکس مین 21 رینکس کی بہتری آئ

اور خان حکومت مین 23 رینکس کی تنزلی #نیا_پاکستان :1

pic.twitter.com/Au0gQ3DDX2

— Dr Humma Saif (@HummaSaif) January 25, 2022