Pakistan Speaker finds cash; 12 MPs claim it, sparking corruption debate.

• Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker found 10 PKR 5,000 notes on the floor, leading to 12 lawmakers claiming ownership in a viral incident.
• The incident sparked widespread embarrassment and criticism among Pakistanis, who viewed it as a symbol of political corruption.
• The article connects the viral video to Pakistan's pervasive corruption, which an IMF report describes as "persistent and corrosive" and a cause of economic crisis.
• Pakistan ranks low on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (135th), reflecting widespread perceptions of corruption.
• The incident highlights the contrast between lawmakers' high, recently increased salaries and Pakistan's severe economic struggles and reliance on IMF loans.

Why It Matters: This incident underscores Pakistan's rampant political corruption and economic woes.