Back in the 1990s, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), who took turns to assume power in the country, dominated political scene in Pakistan. This period was marked by bitter rivalry between the two parties as they blamed each other for failures of the past and using federal agencies, like the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), to witch hunt political rivals.
Fast forward to the 2000s, the two parties shook hands to back judicial activism in Pakistan and to overthrow Musharraf. A new era of political reconciliation between the two sides, in the name of strengthening democracy in Pakistan, saw the first ever transition of power from PPP’s elected government to that of PML-N. Since then, however, leaders of the two parties have occasionally engaged in verbal skirmishes, but things have been a lot more heated recently.
Backed by the PML-N, the notorious NAB is actively pursuing corruption cases involving members of the PPP. A recent verdict by NAB court has sentenced a PPP provincial assembly member to five years imprisonment, which has not gone down too well with the PPP party’s leadership. Accusing the PML-N of manipulating state institutions and misusing judicial processes, former President Zardari has warned the ruling party to refrain from political victimization of opponents as seen in the 1990s. The Sharif government also faced the wrath of Bilawal Bhutto, PPP’s young leader, for neglecting corruption in Punjab and settling political scores through state institutions.
The same thoughts have been recently echoed by PTI chief Imran Khan, who believes that Punjab, a major stronghold of the ruling PML-N, desperately needs a massive operation against corruption. In his view, the Nandipur power project and government’s plan to import Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Qatar at an unspecified price are two glaring examples of corruption by the current regime that would make “people forget all the corruption happened in the past.”
There is nothing wrong with the empowerment of NAB and judicial system to conduct investigations against corrupt officials. Any action taken to rein in corrupt and unscrupulous elements is highly appreciable and will be fully supported by the people of Pakistan, who are sick and tired of looters usurping national wealth and abusing power for their own ulterior motives. It is, however, a real issue when the ruling party turns a blind eye toward its own wrongdoings. A genuine democratic, political system holds all politicians and public officials equally accountable for their deeds. There is no one above the law or has immunity from accountability.
The government must also focus on its own self-accountability and improve governance by undertaking institutional reforms for sustainable improvements in public service. In this regard, it is pertinent that Sharif government’s much promised reform agenda is introduced to strengthen civil and judicial institutions. Without these actions, the government will not be able to build its credibility and any investigations into fraud cases of the past will be trashed as political victimization. If it gathers storm, this perceived political revenge will lead to destabilization of the country and divert government’s attention from other areas of national priority.
