Political parties criticized for being personally driven
By A Reporter
ISLAMABAD, April 25: Pakistan's judicial and political systems drew a flak for being corrupt at the international conference on "The United Nations Conventions Against Corruption (UNCAC)" held here recently.
Alan Perry, head of the Public International Law, Kendall Freeman, Solicitors, said the political party system in Pakistan was dictatorial and undemocratic. "There is no diplomatic way to put it! Mechanisms for internal party elections are poor and stifle the efforts of younger members and those with less influence from rising in the part ranks.
"Political parties are personality-driven. Two mainstream parties have life presidents. Ethics management within any political party is non-existent. "No action has ever been taken against a party member on charges of corruption. Party accounts are seldom audited despite the requirement in The Political Parties Act.
"In Pakistan, the public perception of the legal system is that corruption has reached an all time high and confidence in the judiciary is low." Mr Perry said corruption was acute in the subordinate judiciary. There is a strong perception that money has to be paid at virtually every step of the judicial process to make it move forward.
The politicisation of the superior judiciary in recent years has led to the deterioration of the judiciary as an institution, he said and added that decline in standards had been further deepened by the immunity of the judges from prosecution.
The Supreme Judicial Council, he said, had removed two judges since independence. Through the Asfandyar Wali case the judges have excluded themselves from any mechanism of accountability other than through the Judges Code of Conduct and the Constitution.
"In this regard the superior judiciary should engage with and seek the views of the president and the attorney general to consider strengthening the Supreme Judicial Council to investigate and remove the corrupt judges from the office.
"The judiciary should consider making appointments on merit through a Legal Services Commission. It must address case and court management, including automation and training of staff, training and judgment writing, court control including upholding a presumption against adjournments."
He said security of tenure was essential, as was improvements in remuneration and facilities. The judiciary can cease being a part of the problem of corruption and become a major contributor in its elimination. Technical assistance is available from a pool of international experts working on judicial integrity systems.
For the first time in Pakistan, the NACS addresses the concern that corruption is crippling the development process, stifling private sector and commercial enterprise, breaking down law and order, and most tragically declining the moral standards of society, creating political instability and a loss of legitimacy of state institutions.
