YOUR stand against National Corruption -My Remedy

Humans of Islamic republic of Pakistan led many anti-corruption moments since the day this beautiful country emerged on the map. Citizen groups played a crucial role in proposing policy and legal reforms for curbing corruption and in pressuring the government and parliament to adopt and implement the reforms but then there always remained some influence as well as few weaknesses in campaigns.
Citizens of Pakistan can play a vital role as a watchdog for any misuse of national assets and monitor current economic situations. The negative campaigns against the corrupt politicians also to some extent resulted in several with-drawl or even indictment of high officials. Pakistan still has a long way to go against corruption to show some progress in Corruption Perception Index(CPI).
The lack of free elections as well as of checks and balances between the administrative, legislative and judicial powers, resulted in growing corruption. Moreover, the state control of the market led to collusion between the political power and the economic elite and became the source of widespread corruption.
This writing seeks to explain how civil society can play an important role in anti-corruption moments.

Here comes the most suitable solution as a unified campaign led by society to eradicate corruption viz improvement in policies and implementation of legal reforms.

First, Financial Transactions over real names. It has been a big problem to Pakistan that making financial transactions without identifying oneself with his or her own real name but using a fake name is legally possible. Corrupt people keep on dividing their assets in several fake names to avoid bulk taxes and hide bribery. A real name financial transaction system, or a ban on the use of false names in all financial transactions, is necessary to prevent tax evasion as well as hiding of illegally collected money.

Second, passing legislation based on Freedom of Information Act. This act would allow full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased information and documents controlled by the government of Pakistan. In simple words it should be made necessary for government information to be available to the public. However if there is certain sensitivity, at least government should make them partially public. In this way public would come to know much needed details about contracts and tenders signed on national level. If there are some concerns about sensitivity, amendments can be made to the privacy act.

Third, proper implementation of anti-corruption laws. If there are any amendments needed, a comprehensive anti-corruption law has to be defined timely that includes protection and even reward programs for whistle-blowers, strengthening of the registers and disclosure of assets of high-profile public officials. Government should also introduce special independent prosecutors for investigation of politically sensitive cases.

Fourth, eye on political financing. Reform of Political financing seems to be one of the most difficult challenges to society of Pakistan as the political parties are still not free from the old practices of informal or say under-the-table financing of political funds. As the local elections are approaching, political parties would divert the economy of Pakistan towards winning local elections, secretly. Every time Election Commission of Pakistan sets a limit to spending on election campaigns whereas it is commonly believed that average spending lies around ten times of the legal spending limit. Civic groups should demand the list of contributors and the amount of contributions made as well as expenditure of politicians and political parties should be disclosed. They should also demand that all the expenditures should be covered by legal spending limit and campaign period should be of not more than 15 days. They should also demand the revision of contribution limit such that the legal persons (corporations) should not be allowed to contribute.

Fifth, national budget monitoring. Civil groups should also concentrate on the approval of credible people to monitor government budget if there is any waste or misuse of tax money. People should be rewarded for giving information on the cases of budget waste or misuse.

Although many reform proposals of civil society would be accepted and implemented by the government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and strong and adorable partnership between civil society and public sector would develop with the time, it seems that Pakistan has long way to go against corruption.

Concluding, the first urgent task seems to be the enactment of the Anti-corruption Law and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. However, a much more difficult challenge seems to be the reform of political financing. In particular, real name political financing system and a stricter and more effective system of spending limit and contribution limit are likely to require hard and long battles to achieve. Since it will be never possible for the politicians themselves to reform the old practice of corrupt financing of political funds, role of civil society will be crucial in this reform.