The federal government having failed to get a piece of legislation – holding of public offices (accountability 2009), passed by the National Assembly presented a new National Accountability Bill 2012 without consultation with the opposition and some other allied groups.
Neither the previous bill was circulated among people nor the new one to elicit public opinion. People are totally ignorant about the contents of the draft bill which has been referred to the standing committee of the National Assembly for scrutiny and resubmission to the house. Probably, efforts are afoot to get it hurriedly passed without debate, which is by no means good for democracy. To ascertain public views in my opinion is a pre-requisite under democratic norms.
From media reports it is evident that the proposed bill would be effective from October 2002. If true, it is discriminatory and selective for corruption and malpractices are a crime, and there is no time limit for a criminal offence. To make a law effective from a particular date means condoning and granting immunity to crimes committed before that date. Instead, the law should take course with retrospective effect.
There appear to be some implicit understanding between the PPP and PML-N about fixing of October 2002, in order to save some prominent leaders belonging to each party from the grip of law.
Furthermore, barring few, most of the political leaders are product of martial law regimes and have made unprecedented fortunes. They would be benefiting from this discriminating law taking effect from October 2002.
If both PPP and PML-N are sincere about across the board accountability the draft bill be referred to people through electronic and print media to get public opinion. Otherwise, this exercise might end in a fiasco. Therefore, the government ought to take necessary action in this regard and the media also need to create awareness among the masses.
RAJA SHAFAAT ULLAH
Islamabad
