Political game-game alongside vicious mudslinging has been the trademark of Pakistani political portfolio. Despite a flurry of tall claims by the various rulers, nothing concrete has been done to regulate a proper accountability plan. Instead, the situation has taken a quantum leap for the worse. In simple words, accountability is decoded as an appropriate system of checks and balances on the institutions of Pakistan
Around the world, only those countries could build strong institutions ensuring accountability. As far as the situation in our country is concerned, it has become a second name for a political witch-hunt. Every incumbent government uses this tool as a stick to beat the opposition.
The Vicious Nexus Between Accountability And Political Interests At Present
When we talk about the accountability system at present, we find that this portfolio has been made twisted to suit the interests of rulers. The following paragraph paints a dismal picture of the situation.
NAB And FIA are Always in Search of Opposition Leaders
First, we look that NAB and FIA are always arresting and victimizing anti-establishment politicians. It means that if you are not a favorite cow, you are going to pay for it. A number of fabricated cases are registered which are built on weak grounds.
Personal Mudslinging of the Accused
In the same manner, it has been the trait of government officials and politicians to assail the opposition leaders even on personal grounds. Even their personal life is not spared. These scenes are horrendous as they truly hurt the personal sanctity of a person which has been guaranteed through the constitution.
Founded And Baseless Accusations
Likewise, the grounds on which the cases are established by any incumbent government are not solid and are very thin. Even the media accuses the political leaders of their own perceptions. It has been reported by Human Rights Council in 2022
In Pakistan, there has been a steep rise in politically engineered cases that have no solid grounds to stand on.
Plea Bargain And Other Such Evil Practices to Treat the Favorite Cows
Moreover, every incumbent government first aim at eliminating those cases and trials which were initiated against them because of their malpractices. One such evil practice at present is plea bargaining which allows the accusers to have some ill-gotten money while sharing other parts with the government of Pakistan.
A Large Number of Cases Registered in A Short Span of Time Against One’s Opposition Just to Satiate One’s Ego
Additionally, we note that a large number of references are opened even in a day against political leaders of other schools of thought just to silence their voices. When these cases are sent for trial, a major part is thrown out just because these have no solid grounds to claim.
Chairman NAB Succumbed to the Pressure of the Incumbent Government
In addition to that, the recent event of the resignation of Aftab Sultan as the Chairman followed by the incoming of the other one, indicates the sad state of affairs. When the government pressurized him to hunt for the opposition leaders just to suit the vested interest of the rulers, he refused to do so. As a result, a new chairman was inducted who could serve the interests of the rulers.
Implications of The Above Mentioned Thesis Statement
This situation cannot sustain long as it has sapped the very blood and energy of our beloved country. We have discusses the implications of using accountability as a political witch-hunt in the following paragraphs.
Accountability Institutions Have Been Made A Farce
First, the horrendous effect of this practice is that a sham accountability system has been installed in a place that mocks the very existence of the system of checks and balances. All the watchdogs of corruption lack the semblance of professionalism and integrity just politically engineered accountability.
Institutional Crisis
Similarly, we see the phenomenon of institutional choices in Pakistan. Almost every institution has plunged into a deep crisis. Due to political victimization, a sense of uncertainty prevails almost among all the institutions of Pakistan.
Pakistan Has Been Downgrading in the List
In the same way, when each year passes, we see that Pakistan has been going down in the Corruption Perception Index. For example, Corruption Perception Index 2022 places Pakistan at 145 place which is lower considering the regional scenario.
Check out: Default Risk of Pakistan in 2023
Human Rights Violations Committed By Accountability Watch-Dogs
The right to a fair trial is the basic right of every individual as per the constitution of Pakistan. But this right is being trampled upon by the intelligence agencies of Pakistan which even trespass on their personal sanctity. It has been well delineated by Amnesty International.
Pakistan has registered a very dismal performance regarding human rights violations, especially under elected democratic governments.
Plugging Out The Loopholes in the Accountability System of Pakistan
It is the right time to address this once and for all as it has capped the climax. The following is the pragmatic solution in order to strengthen the accountability mechanism.
Accountability Institutions Should be Made Transparent And Free of Politics
First, accountability institutions should be highly professional and rules-based. These watchdogs should not compromise their integrity. If these institutions will be allowed to work professionally, then money laundering, as well as terror financing, will be concepts of bygone days.
The Accountability Watch-Dogs Should Be Trained on Modern Lines
In the same way, the anti-corruption bodies should be made modern by training them on modern lines and equipping them with modern equipment. In this regard, regional training programs may be opted to learn from the experiences of other countries.
Internal Accountability Mechanism Should Be Installed in The Institutions
Similarly, an internal system should be installed in each and every institution which should oversee the check and balances.
Cases And References’ Fate Should Be on Their Grounds
In the same way, proper training can be initiated for the politicians which will curtail extremism and political attacks. All the references should be decided after a free and fair trial without external involvement.
Wrapping Up
To sum the whole discussion up, we may conclude that accountability has become a second name of political vendetta in Pakistan. All the concerned stakeholders should sit together for urgent remedial measures which will ensure that accountability is serving its end in Pakistan. It is high time to initiate the process and deliberate on this important portfolio.
