The widespread public applause following last week’s arrest of the high profile Pakistani politician Asim Hussain was a timely reminder of the South Asian country’s popular yearning for a stepped up attack on corruption.

Though granular details of the nature of the latest charges against Hussain remain a matter of speculation, it is clear that the charges eventually connect with energy related issues as Hussain previously served as the de facto minister of petroleum and natural resources.

Though a medical doctor by training, Hussain rose to fame through his widely known proximity to Pakistan’s former president Asif Ali Zardari. In fact, he continues to be seen as one of Zardari’s most loyal political lieutenants. In sharp contrast to his training as a medical doctor, Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chose Hussain in 2011 to serve as its de facto minister. At a time when energy shortages across Pakistan were acutely visible, Hussain’s appointment attracted widespread interest and subsequent criticism.

Ultimately then, many concluded that his choice for the job spoke more of the cronyism that has dominated Pakistan’s democratic politics in recent years, rather than merit. His arrest has been followed by news of the issuance of fresh non-bailable arrest warrants by a Pakistani court for the arrest of former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani of the PPP and former PPP minister Amin Fahim on corruption related charges.

These three initiatives involving Hussain, Gilani and Fahim however must not be seen in isolation from Pakistan’s overall direction. In recent months, an army-backed campaign in the southern port city of Karachi to restore law and order, has also targeted members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) as part of a long overdue clean-up.

The result has indeed been a marked improvement in Karachi’s daily atmosphere where robberies at gunpoint, purse snatching and mobile phone thefts were once a common occurrence. The PPP remains the other main political force in Karachi by virtue of ruling over the southern Sindh province of which Karachi is the local capital.

It is important to note that the cases of the three PPP politicians highlighted last week on the face of it are the work of civilian agencies. Yet, a combination of conventional wisdom along side comprehensive analysis of Pakistan’s conditions clearly reveals the obvious handprint of the army led by General Raheel Sharif.

It is clear that the Pakistan army is keen to oversee a long overdue attack on corruption. Clearly, the sudden pursuit of high profile PPP politicians by Pakistan’s anti-corruption official outfit, which for long remained complacent on the matter, has unleashed suggestions of mounting pressure from the army to push this process forward.

Issuance of the warrants

Irrespective of where the orders for the arrest and the issuance of the warrants finally came from, the action in itself will certainly help Pakistan in two equally important ways. On the one hand, the pursuit of politicians who were once considered above the law on corruption related charges has indeed reinforced the Pakistani public’s faith in equality of all before the law.

This is a major departure from a situation where many influential and notable Pakistanis considered themselves above the law. The reinvigoration of the public’s faith in the sanctity of due process is certain to emerge as one of the most important morale boosters for Pakistan in recent times.

On the other hand, the successful pursuit of influential individuals — from arrest till prosecution — will tangibly help to reinforce the view that doing business in Pakistan is set to become easier than before. In sharp contrast to the powerful reality of graft being a normal part of the cost of doing business in the country, a reduction of this malicious trend in time is set to translate into Pakistan becoming a more attractive destination for investors.

However, achieving the end result of a post clean up progress country also depends on two equally important factors. On the one hand, beyond pursuing key politicians from the MQM and the PPP, it is vital for Pakistan to pursue reputationally shady individuals from other political groups too. In the past, there has been no shortage of allegations against individuals from every political party who were targeted with charges of being on the take.

On the other hand, it is also important for Pakistan to begin a long overdue overhaul of mechanisms responsible for pursuing corruption, beginning with either bringing about new laws or reforming present ones to deal with the matter. At the same time, it is vital to begin a long overdue reform of institutions responsible for targeting corrupt practices across the board. For too long, Pakistan has lived with a sense of complacency which in the final result has only given an impetus to corruption across society.

As news spread of an uptick in the pursuit of politically powerful individuals tainted for corruption, many Pakistanis were instantly reminded of another period when hope emerged of a vigorous attack on graft. The first two years under the tenure of General Pervez Musharraf, the former military ruler from 1999 till 2008, witnessed an upturn in public confidence on matters of prosecutions for corruption. This followed the decision to haul in a large number of dubious individuals for questioning. The effort however lost steam in time as Musharraf eventually chose to widen his political base even at the cost of building alliances with shady politicians.

Today, Pakistan stands at a similar crossroads. While the corner may have been turned, sustaining the effort and remaining on course will indeed continue to confront Pakistan with the repeated need to embrace difficult choices.

Farhan Bokhari is a Pakistan-based commentator who writes on political and economic matters.