WHI Institute for Competitive Exams.

CURRENT & PAKISAN AFFAIRS

LECTURE 5
CSP Sir ABDULLAH

ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES OF PAKISTAN -

INTRODUCTION:

Accountability is comprised of two terminologies: Responsibility and

Credibility. So, the credible working body with responsible attitude to avoid
any mishaps in any institution is known as accountable body. In our socio-
econmic affairs, we are all accountable to our deeds either officially or
unofficially. Accountability supports democratic, institutional, systematic
and structural developments. Since the inception of Pakistan, the country
has been facing the issue of corruption and other financial irregularities.
Although with the passage of times, the authorities of the country have
been enacting laws and bodies to curb the menace of corruption, but on the
contrary, the country is moving down in terms of reducing corruption.
Pakistan, acc to Amnesty international, stands at 124 out of 180 countries.

BODIES AND LAWS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

There have been different laws to curb corruption including:

1) PRODA, Public Representative Officece Disqualification Act.

2) EBDO, Elective Bodies Disqualification Act.

3) Anti-corruption Ordinance.

4) NAB Act 1999.

5) Anti-money laundering Act 2020.

There are some bodies and institutions working under both federal and
provincial jurisdiction that include:

FEDERAL:

•> NAB, National Accountability Bureau.

•> FIA, Federal Investigation Agency.

•> Auditor General of Pakistan

•> Federal Ombudsman

•> Public Accounts Committee

Provincial:

•> Anti-corruption Establishments ACEs.

•> Police.

ISSUES OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

There are number of issues that how our accountability network has been
failing since decades including:

1) Poltical Victimization or Poltical Engineering of accountability institutions.

2) Conduct and discipline problems e. g Lapse of Judgment vs Corruption.

3) Lack of modern research and development in institutions.

4) Credibility of Prosecution e. g. Supreme court remarks about NABthat it

is doing institutionalized corruption.
5) Soft forgiving culture e. g. Plee bargain, NRO and back channel
recovery.

6) Archaic framework of accountability institutions and overlapping of roles

between institutions.

7) Rationalization of discretionary powers e. g powers to arrest without any

proper order and proved allegations.

8) Uncertainty in punishment.

9) Undocumented economy.

SUGGESTIONS:

To have good accountability grip to curb corruption from the country, there
is need of reforms in archaic system of accountability and some way
forwards are;

1) Independency to accountability institutions must be prevailed through

oversight body.

2) Higher officials of NAB and FIA must be appointed through a proper

competition among many eligible persons and law experts.

3) There must be clarity in conduct and discipline issues as lapse of

judgment must be separated from corruption.

4) No one can arrest any person without proper written order.

5) Physical remand period must be reduced from 90 days to 15 days to

speed up the process.

6) All recruitment must be made through FPSC.

7) There is need of modern research and development through integrated

technology in accountability institutions.

8) Accused may be allowed bail but under ECL, Exit Control List.
9) Freezing of assets must be done through proper written orders.