Political engineering is not something that started with the formation of the National Accountability Bureau, such practices go back to the establishment of Pakistan, said senior journalist Murtaza Solangi in a comment on the Supreme Court judgement concerning NAB.
Solangi made these comments on web show Khabar Say Aagay hosted by Naya Daur Editor Raza Rumi. The show which discussed the ramifications of the SC judgement included legal expert Asad Jamal, journalist Asad Ali Toor and eminent defence analyst Dr Ayesha Siddiqa as guests.
According to Solangi, it all started with the formation of Pakistan, especially when the government of then prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan introduced the Public and Representative Office Disqualification Act in 1949. The tradition to manipulate political opponents was carried on by military dictator Ayub Khan, who used the Elected Bodies Disqualification Order to target rivals, he added.
According to analyst Ayesha Siddiqa, the audit and accounts department that is meant to keep a check on corruption on a daily basis is understaffed nor is it independent. She said lack accountability in all institutions is increasing corruption. "When I worked with auditor general office, pensioners committed suicide," said the analyst while commenting on the state of affairs prevalent in the government offices.
Asad Jamal said the NAB-bashing by the courts is nothing new. In past, Chief Justice (r) Saqib Nasir and other judges had criticised the bureau but that didn't change anything.
In a scathing judgement on Monday, the Supreme Court criticised the accountability laws of the country, saying these laws were being used as a tool to ‘arm-twist and pressurise’ political opponents into submission and ‘fracturing political parties’.
Solangi made these comments on web show Khabar Say Aagay hosted by Naya Daur Editor Raza Rumi. The show which discussed the ramifications of the SC judgement included legal expert Asad Jamal, journalist Asad Ali Toor and eminent defence analyst Dr Ayesha Siddiqa as guests.
According to Solangi, it all started with the formation of Pakistan, especially when the government of then prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan introduced the Public and Representative Office Disqualification Act in 1949. The tradition to manipulate political opponents was carried on by military dictator Ayub Khan, who used the Elected Bodies Disqualification Order to target rivals, he added.
According to analyst Ayesha Siddiqa, the audit and accounts department that is meant to keep a check on corruption on a daily basis is understaffed nor is it independent. She said lack accountability in all institutions is increasing corruption. "When I worked with auditor general office, pensioners committed suicide," said the analyst while commenting on the state of affairs prevalent in the government offices.
Asad Jamal said the NAB-bashing by the courts is nothing new. In past, Chief Justice (r) Saqib Nasir and other judges had criticised the bureau but that didn't change anything.
In a scathing judgement on Monday, the Supreme Court criticised the accountability laws of the country, saying these laws were being used as a tool to ‘arm-twist and pressurise’ political opponents into submission and ‘fracturing political parties’.