What has been demanded for long is a law that can ensure the creation of a body capable of conducting across the board accountability of all those in a position to misuse office and indulge in corrupt practices. This requires that no sacred cows are kept out of the body’s purview. The demand is the result of the bitter experience of one-sided accountability during the 90’s and under Musharraf. During the PML(N) rule, the principal target was the PPP leadership. This was the period when politically motivated cases were relentlessly pursued by the all powerful and motivated appointee of the government. While rejecting a sentence of the type, the SC had observed that malice floated over the decision of the High Court judge. Cases against the PML(N) leaders under the PPP were often of a similar nature. The notorious NAB set up by Musharraf was employed to pressurise political opponents, particularly those with seedy reputation, and to recruit turncoats from the opposition. Those who failed to comply earned NAB’s ire which subsequently persecuted them.
What was widely resented during the 90’s and under Musharraf was treating certain categories as sacred cows. In the earlier period, the politicians were so busy in infighting that they did not care to hold any powerful institution accountable. Under Musharraf, there was no chance of holding its own constituency accountable. Some of the judges tarred by the brush of corruption were used by the dictator to throw out the independent ones.
The major problem with the accountability bill about to be tabled is that it precludes certain categories from accountability namely the armed forces, bureaucrats and holders of public office on the flimsy excuse that they are amply covered by other laws. Several past examples as well as the findings of the present Public Accounts Committee would indicate that the internal checks of the armed forces and bureaucracy are not enough to rein in the unscrupulous elements. Thanks to the nurseries of new politicians raised by successive military rulers to gather public support, the malaise of corruption has spread among politicians also irrespective of their party affiliations. No accountability law which excludes sections of citizens from its purview would win public trust.