PPP, PML-N ignore CoD’s pledge for accountability

ISLAMABAD: While the Charter of Democracy has been strictly followed by both the PML-N and PPP to support each other’s governments in the name of ‘reconciliation’, the critical points like jointly working for an independent accountability commission, depoliticised and neutral bureaucracy, rule of law and merit, etc, have been conveniently ignored by both sides during their rule.
The CoD, which is generally referred to by certain politicians as a means to protect the corrupt and corruption, had also promised the empowerment of parliamentary committees’ system to serve as a check on the executive besides resolving the devolution of power at the grassroot level but here too both the PPP and PML-N failed to take the necessary steps.
Instead, as against the CoD’s commitment to “decentralisation and devolution of power for the empowerment of the people at the grassroots level”, the two parties have failed during the last eight years to hold local government elections in the provinces under their direct rule.
It is interesting to note that the local government elections have been held in the PTI-led KPK and the nationalist-led Balochistan whereas neither the PMLN-led Punjab nor the PPP-led Sindh conducted local government elections in their provinces since 2008.
The CoD says, “Local bodies election will be held on party basis through provincial election commissions in respective provinces and constitutional protection will be given to the local bodies to make them autonomous and answerable to their respective assemblies as well as to the people through regular courts of law.”
The CoD had resolved to replace politically motivated NAB with an independent accountability commission, whose chairman shall be nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the leader of the opposition and confirmed by a joint parliamentary committee with 50 percent members from the treasury benches and the remaining 50 percent from the opposition parties in the same manner as appointment of judges through transparent public hearing.
It was also promised by the CoD that the confirmed nominee for the post of the chairman independent accountability commission shall meet the standard of political impartiality, judicial propriety, moderate views, etc. After the 2008 elections when the PPP government took over, the two parties decided to start work on the setting up of an independent accountability commission for across-the-board accountability. However, despite the lapse of over seven years, the two have not agreed on any proposed commission, which created doubts in many minds about the sincerity of the two parties.
Additionally, accountability remained the least priority of the last PPP regime as well as the PML-N government till the recent reactivation of NAB and FIA particularly in Sindh.
The CoD also states that the two parties would give a neutral civil service to the country besides ensuring the rule of law and merit. However, ever since their return to power after the fall of Musharraf’s dictatorship, none has shown any interest during the last seven years to reform the civilian bureaucracy or depoliticise the police. This has not been done despite the clear directions of the Supreme Court. Similarly, the rule of law and merit have not been the priority of these governments.
The CoD also pledged, “The Governance will be improved to help the common citizen, by giving access to quality social services like education, health, job generation, curbing price hike, combating illegal redundancies, and curbing lavish spendings in civil and military establishments as ostentations cause great resentment amongst the teeming millions. We pledge to promote and practice simplicity at all levels.”
The CoD also promised, “The ISI, MI and other security agencies shall be accountable to the elected government through Prime Minister Secretariat, Ministry of Defence, and Cabinet Division respectively. Their budgets will be approved by DCC on the recommendations of the respective ministry. The political wings of all intelligence agencies will be disbanded. A committee will be formed to cut waste and bloat in the armed forces and security agencies in the interest of the defence and security of the country. All senior postings in these agencies shall be made with the approval of the government through respective ministry.”
The CoD also committed, “Military land allotment and cantonment jurisdictions will come under the purview of defence ministry. A commission shall be set up to review, scrutinise and examine the legitimacy of all such land allotment rules, regulations, and policies, along with all cases of state land allotment including those of military urban and agricultural land allotments since October 12, 1999 to hold those accountable who have indulged in malpractices, profiteering, and favouritism.” However, these provisions of the CoD also remain unimplemented.