Tackling corruption a turning point for Pakistan

A landmark verdict by Pakistan's Supreme Court, reversing a controversial amnesty on cases of corruption targeting up to 8,000 people, including President Asif Ali Zardari, has been widely welcomed across the country as a significant step forward in its democratic development.

But in celebrating the event, Pakistan's commentators and its increasingly robust media may have missed a fundamentally important point.

In the wake of the verdict, much of the discussion appears to be about the president's political future, given that he has been accused of corruption in the past, both on Pakistani soil as well as overseas in Switzerland.

While Zardari enjoys immunity by virtue of his presidential office and cannot be hauled before prosecutors, his future should not dominate discussion.

Unprecedented verdict

More notable is the extent to which Pakistan could change as a result of this unprecedented verdict. It is not a secret that there has been a significant increase in tolerance for corruption in high places under successive governments. Indeed, one government after another has ignored the dangers posed to Pakistan as corruption has flourished with the passage of time.

Successive regimes, both military and civilian, have failed to tackle this problem in good time. Consequently, Pakistan is more corrupt today than ever before.

The Supreme Court has taken a vital first step to begin enforcing a fundamental change in the prevalent environment. The most important message in the Supreme Court's verdict is that high-profile graft, no matter to what extent it is supported by politically powerful individuals, will not be ignored. In other words, the fundamental message is that a blind acceptance of corruption can no longer be the norm, giving Pakistanis a reason to feel grateful to the country's top judges.

Going forward, Pakistan needs to approach the issue of corruption in high places, in a two-pronged way. On the one hand, the government must take the lead in establishing new mechanisms to combat corruption in ways not necessarily considered before. In a country where less than one per cent of the population pays income tax, there is clearly widespread tax evasion.

This is a key part of a wider trend whereby people take the law into their own hands and are never held accountable. Some of the worst crimes committed in history, not just in Pakistan but elsewhere too, are indeed the consequence of governments fundamentally failing to hold individuals responsible. Pakistan has time and again claimed that it is prepared to finally clamp down on tax evaders, but has never succeeded in doing so.

Set an example

Second, the holders of high public office need to finally demonstrate their determination to conduct themselves in a manner that is above board, irrespective of their positions or clout. This essentially means the introduction of a brand new set of rules on issues related to the ways in which influential individuals also tend to be wealthy individuals.

Much of the corruption that prevails in Pakistan today is the consequence of what is often called the country's ‘VIP culture'  reference to unlimited perks and privileges, often at the expense of the state.

In such an environment, people of influence make policy choices without any regard for damage done to the public interest. Some of the most high-profile cases of corruption which have been upheld by the Supreme Court have to do with the abuse of authority for personal gain.

Going forward, other fundamental changes to the way the government works must include a move towards greater transparency. Often, corruption is facilitated when there is no public oversight of transactions. This must change.

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