NAB and K-P Ehtesab Commission are doing a commendable job in bringing corrupt politicians and bureaucrats to account
PESHAWAR: Accountability of the elite in Pakistan is an elusive and daunting task. Whether it be the National Accountability Bureau or the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Ehtesab Commission, both institutions at provincial and federal levels have been doing commendable jobs in bringing high-profile, corrupt politicians and bureaucrats to account. However, their sincere attempts to bring the looted money back to the national exchequer are held hostage by vested political interests. Those political parties that are only paying lip service to accountability and anti-corruption drives are terming these institutions’ efforts political victimisation and revenge.
Unfortunately, those who were hitherto considered the flag-bearers of accountability and anti-corruption seem to have gone back on their principles. The K-P government has introduced an amendment to the Accountability Commission Act of 2014, thereby making it subservient to the provincial government and bureaucracy. The Commission is no longer independent. The director general of the Ehtesab Commission, a man with an impeccable career record, has already informed the PTI leadership of his reservations regarding the amendment, but neither Imran Khan nor Pervez Khattak have heeded his calls. Consequently, in view of the cold shoulder given by the PTI leadership, Hamid Khan had no option but to resign with dignity. Imran Khan should have told the provincial government to scrap the amendment in order to restore the previous vigour of the Commission.
Faisal Rehman
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2016.
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