ISLAMABAD: The senators Wednesday called for across the board accountability of all those involved in corrupt practices.
The Senate debated a motion under Rule 218 jointly moved by lawmakers of various parties regarding measures to combat corruption with focus on off-shore companies, across the board accountability and a new accountability mechanism.
Speaking on the motion, PPPP Senator Taj Haider said the Senate had always tried to resolve issues through developing consensus after discussion. He hoped that debate in the Upper House about measures to combat corruption would be fruitful and provide guidelines for eliminating the menace.
He said there was tax evasion of Rs 1.3 trillion per year which might be avoided to overcome budget deficit being faced by the country.
He said no one, even politicians and parliamentarians, were above law and all should take definite steps to curb corruption.
PPPP's Farhat Ullah Babar said the element of secrecy in official matters caused encouraged corruption and stressed for Right to Information law at the federal level like provinces, making people's access to the desired information.
He said there should be a system in place where provision of information could not be denied on any pretence and corruption should be highlighted if committed in any institution.
PPPP's Sehar Kamran said one could contribute for a positive change in the society by adopting proper conduct and approach.
The delay in deciding cases also led to various social evils and such shortcomings should be addressed, she added.
BNP-M lawmaker Jehanzeb Jamaldini said focus should be made to root out corruption as the menace was rampant in three provinces.
No one was a sacred cow and all should be made accountable without any discrimination, he added.
He said attempts could be foreseen to derail the democratic process and those spending hundreds of millions of rupees on a single political gathering should be made accountable.
PPPP's Karim Ahmed Khawaja said the democratic process should remain continue and accountability of all should be ensured. PTI's Nauman Wazir questioned the role of parliament in rooting out the menace of corruption and demanded some tangible actions to get rid of it. Besides politicians, accountability of institutional heads should also be held and investigation should be held as to whether their lifestyles commensurate with their means, he added. MQM's Parliamentary Leader Col (Retd) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said 'selective justice' was injustice and questioned as to whether joint investigation teams were formed for others also, who were named in the Panama Papers. The corruption, he said, was like a cancer and the entire nation had to make decision collectively to root it out. PkMAP's Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan Musakhel said that Constitution was not being followed in the country.
MQM's Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh said there was a need to review the existing immunity system and financial management system. "Through empowering citizens and promoting transparency and access to information system, we can get rid of corruption," he added.
NP's Mir Kabeer Ahmed Muhammad Shahi also demanded across the board accountability and called for serious efforts to get rid of corruption.
PML-N's Abdul Qayyum said delayed justice and giving favour to a dictator for amending the Constitution was also corruption. There were black sheep in institutions, who should be pointed out instead of levelling allegations against the institutions, he added.
MQM's Maulana Tanveer-ul-Haq Thanvi stressed to follow Islamic teachings and adopt honesty in worldly affairs.
JI's Sirajul Haq said one had to positively change oneself and asked to extend the purview of Articles 62 and 63 to all others, besides politicians. Some 436 persons were involved in the Panama scandal, he added.
PML-N's Mushahid Ullah said PML-N leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif believed in the supremacy of institutions and he accepted the apex court decision. However, he added, only correct decisions were accepted by the people.
The PML-N supporters were giving a warm welcome to the cavalcade of their leader Nawaz Sharif and for which he saluted them, he added.
He said the Jamaat-e-Islami was part of government in provinces, but its leaders had not asked for investigation there despite severe allegations on their provincial ministers. It should be demand of Jamaat-e-Islami that all 435 others named in the Panama Papers should be investigated, he added.
PML-N's Javed Abbassi said politicians were accused of being corrupt, who did legislation in atmosphere of fear while Saud Majeed of the PML-N criticized certain parliamentarians who preferred to appear on television and did not come to the National Assembly to vote for the slot of prime minister.
He asked for collective efforts to stamp out the corruption from the country.
PTI's Azam Swati asked for rule of law in the country and indiscriminate action against those involved in corruption. He said all should be made accountable.
ANP's Ilyas Bilour termed across the board accountability crucial to put the country on right track and spoke for empowering the parliament.
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