They raze more than a dozen government buildings to the ground, including the residence of the LahoreThe second largest city in Pakistan. It is the capital of the Punjab province. Corps Commander. Streaming out of the blaze, protestors haul away their spoils: paintings, golf clubs, strawberries and even a peacock.

It is a snapshot of the anarchyA situation in which there are no rulers. The term can be used to describe complete political chaos or mob rule, but those who call themselves anarchists generally believe in mutual aid and cooperation, not a war of all-against-all. on PakistanA country in South Asia with a population of 242 million, making it the fifth-most populated country. 's streets. Violent clashes broke out after Imran KhanA former international cricketer who became the prime minister of Pakistan in 2018, until April 2022., Pakistan's former prime minister, was arrested by paramilitaryAn unofficial group organised like a military force. troops in IslamabadThe capital city of Pakistan, and the country's ninth-most populous city. on Tuesday. The protests span several major cities.

Khan has been accused of multiple counts of corruptionWhen someone abuses their power for personal gain. It often involves bribery. , including illegally acquiring land and selling gifts that he received from foreign leaders whilst in power, but he has denied the charges.

But the former PM, who was a famous sportsman before he set his sights on politics, has skyrocketed in popularity since being removed from power last year. He gained a platform in 2013 by speaking out against corruption, but after coming to power in 2018 he made an enemy of Pakistan's powerful military.¹

Now, his supporters are finding themselves at odds with the state and military too. Over 2,000 people have been arrested since protests broke out, including seven senior members of Khan's party, which claims that the corruption allegations are politically motivated.

One Pakistani journalist describes Pakistan as a "snake swallowing its tail, consuming itself". The widespread violence comes amid a soaring cost of livingThe money that someone needs to afford basic food, housing and clothes. crisis, an escalating battle with extremism, currency volatility and national elections due in the autumn.

Pakistan's history of corruption is far-reaching. No prime minister has ever completed their full five year term in office since the country achieved independence; all have been dismissed on charges of corruption.

Corruption deters investment, weakens economic growth, leads to institutional distrust and distorts the electoral process. It also entrenches inequalities: referred to as an "invisible poor tax", it hits lower income groups the hardest.

But, perhaps surprisingly, some say that corruption is the oil that lubricates the global economic machine. It decreases bureaucracy, reducing the cost of red tapeOfficial rules and processes that are unnecessary and delay results.. Research suggests that it can boost economic growth in certain economies. And some experts think that informal and illicit corrupt activities can grant access to people excluded unfairly from the formal economy.

Yes: We should aspire to a world free of corruption. Corruption is more widespread in developing economies. Eradicating corruption is part of building a strong economy.

No: Corruption will always be a part of politics; it is even part of what inspires many people to pursue power. There is a reason why there is not a single government free of corruption allegations anywhere in the world.

Or... A world free of corruption may not even be something that we should aspire to. There are places where, due to strict regulations, corruption is written into the political and economic fabric, and economists think it may even do some good.