Promising autonomy: Govt to set up accountability commission

All other anti-corruption bodies to be dissolved in province.

PESHAWAR:

The government on Tuesday formally announced to set up an accountability commission.

The structure of the commission was shared by Information Minister Shah Farman during a press briefing at Officers Mess on Tuesday. Farman said the PTI government was not satisfied with the anti-corruption bodies in the province, which will be dissolved after the accountability commission is established.

A 10-member legislative committee of the provincial assembly, with five members each from the treasury and opposition benches, will select seven people for the Search and Scrutiny Committee of the commission.

The scrutiny committee will then select a director general, prosecutor general and director internal monitoring and public complaints (DIMPC) in addition to five commissioners. The number of women members has yet to be decided.

The post of DIMPC is meant to keep a check on the accountability commission itself and to inform the five commissioners about the body’s activities if it indulges in any form of embezzlement. Farman further informed the DIMPC will not come under the supervision of the director general and will function independently.

The accountability commission will be a self-running, autonomous body with no interference of hiring or firing by the government.

Shah Farman said feedback is welcome for the initial draft of the commission’s structure, which will be available on government websites.  He added the commission will have a four-year non-extendable term and will be financially independent.

Before retiring from their posts, the seven members of the scrutiny committee will elect the next group of people to continue the cycle. “It will become a self-running institution with no inference from the government,” Farman said.

The commission promises to have transparent merit-based appointments, public disclosure of recommendation of all appointments, special proceedings for trial in the courts as well as public declaration of assets. Political party members cannot be made members of the commission.

Indirectly criticising the previous government of the Awami National Party, where, according to Farman corruption was rampant, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA said no office bearer will be given immunity and any member involved in corruption will be exposed, adding this will give the government more credibility. “The accountability body will also have the authority to check on ministers and the chief minister.”

Session judges will hear cases in accountability courts where proceedings will be conducted every day without a gap. There is, however, a provision of adjournment for seven days which can be availed only once. “The commission’s jurisdiction will be extended to the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas,” Farman added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2013.