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Police remain most corrupt in Pakistan, TIP survey shows

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  • Survey says police first while judiciary 3rd most corrupt department.
  • Tendering & contracting emerge as 2nd most corrupt sector.
  • Education climbs to 4th rung of the corruption ladder since 2021.

ISLAMABAD: A fresh survey Friday revealed that police continue to occupy the top rung of the corruption ladder in the country followed by tendering & contracting, judiciary, and education —which climbed to 4th since the last poll carried out in 2021.

These are the findings of Transparency International Pakistan’s (TIP) National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2022.

The NCPS 2022 released at 01:00 am on Friday also showed no confidence in anti-corruption entities including National Accountability Bureau (NAB). At the national level, the majority of people considered anti-corruption institutions’ role as “ineffective” in curbing corruption in Pakistan, the report said.

Key findings of the NCPS 2022: 

01: The provincial breakdown of the three most corrupt sectors reveals the following:

In Sindh, education remained the most corrupt sector, police was seen as the 2nd most corrupt, while tendering and contracting was the 3rd most corrupt. In Punjab, police remained the most corrupt sector, tendering and contracting were seen as the 2nd most corrupt, while the judiciary was the 3rd most corrupt.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the judiciary remained the most corrupt sector, tendering and contracting was seen as the 2nd most corrupt, while the police department was the 3rd most corrupt.

In Balochistan, tendering and contracting remained the most corrupt sector, police were seen as the 2nd most corrupt, while the judiciary was the 3rd most corrupt.

02: At the national level, the majority of 45% of people considered anti-corruption institutions’ role as ‘ineffective’ in curbing corruption in Pakistan. In Sindh, 35% of Pakistanis considered the NAB’s role as effective in curbing corruption. In Punjab (31%), KP (61%), and Balochistan (58%) Pakistanis considered the role of “none of the anti-corruption institutions” to be effective in curbing corruption in Pakistan.

03: Pakistanis continued to believe that corruption in public service delivery is high. According to the citizens, the three most corrupt public services for which people have to pay bribes are contracts of roads (40%), access to uninterrupted electricity (28%) and access to clean drinking water (17%). In Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan, maintenance of roads tops the list of public service delivery perceived by the citizens to be the most corrupt. While in KP, the majority of citizens (47%) consider access to uninterrupted electricity to be the most corrupt public service delivery.

04: The three most important causes of corruption, according to NCPS 2022 are delayed decisions in corruption cases (31%), use of state institutions by governments for their gain (26%) and incompetence of the government (19%). In Sindh (43%) and Punjab (29%), citizens consider the “use of state institutions by governments for their personal gain” as the most potent reason for corruption in Pakistan. While KP (43%) and Balochistan (32%) consider “delay in decisions of corruption cases” as the main reason for corruption in Pakistan.

05: As measures to curb corruption, 33% of Pakistanis at the national level say corruption should be punishable by life imprisonment, and 28% of Pakistanis say all government officials, politicians, military officers, judges etc. should disclose their assets to the public, and 25% say corruption cases should be heard in NAB, FIA and anti-corruption courts on daily basis and decided in 6 months.

In Sindh, 39% of citizens believe that to curb corruption, corruption cases should be heard in NAB, FIA and anti-corruption courts daily and decided in 6 months. In Punjab (32%) and KP (38%) citizens feel that corruption should be punishable by lifetime imprisonment to combat corruption. While in Balochistan, 33% of citizens opine that to control corruption, the government should immediately make it mandatory for all government officials, politicians, military officers, judges, etc, to disclose their assets to the public.

06: The survey also sheds light on the devastating floods of 2022 and the need for transparency and accountability in the utilisation of funds and response to floods. At the national level, about 62% of Pakistanis considered the role of local NGOs as effective and better during the recent floods in 2022.

07: Large population of Pakistanis (70%) believes that the funds/aid were not distributed transparently during the recent floods in Pakistan and 60 % of Pakistanis believe that the donations and relief operations of the NGOs working in flood relief activities should be more transparent. Overwhelming population 88% of the population believes that details of donations and expenditures of all NGOs should be publicly available on their websites.

08: Significant portion of the population (77%) finds it difficult to obtain public information from public bodies under Right to Information laws. The provincial breakdown reveals that in Sindh (87%), Punjab (83%), KP (71%) and Balochistan (68%) citizens face difficulty when it comes to accessing public information from government departments.

09: Majority of Pakistanis (64%) say that Pakistan has not benefited from the IMF agreement dated 12th May 2019.

10: At the national level, 54% of citizens believe that the news channel’s reporting is biased.

PM urges need to remove corruption

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tied the country’s turnaround to the eradication of corruption in all its forms, calling the menace a major cause of instability as it was not only undermining the economy but also the administrative structure.

The premier also underscored the need for doing away with the practice of using corruption as a tool for political victimisation. He said that the previous government jailed political opponents on the basis of frivolous corruption allegations.

“This practice should be ended so that anti-corruption institutions may strengthen by performing truly for the elimination of corruption without being misused,” he commented.

He said the deterioration of social values also gave way to corruption in any society.

PM Shehbaz said the corruption not only risked the flow of money into the hands of miscreants to disrupt the country’s peace but also led to the weakening of national institutions creating public mistrust in governance.

He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government always took practical steps to eradicate corruption. The ratio of corruption witnessed a downward trend during the party’s government from 2013-18. Moreover, no one could prove the corruption of a single penny by the PML-N government which executed projects of billions of dollars under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

He also urged all the political circles to prepare a clear roadmap to get rid of corruption.

He said in light of Islamic principles, efforts should be made for strengthening the institutions to do away with the scourge. “We will have to ensure rule of law besides social protection as well as social values.

“All of us will have to work collectively for a corruption-free Pakistan. Only this way, Pakistan will be able to achieve progress. On this International Anti-Corruption Day, let us pledge to realise this dream,” he urged.

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Pakistan

PM directs authorities to ensure smooth gas supply during Ramadan

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed authorities to guarantee an unbroken supply of gas to citizens during the sacred month of Ramadan, particularly during the times of Iftar and Sehri.

The prime minister’s directives come as the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on Thursday announced its decision to suspend supplies to captive power plants and industries, citing the widening gap between gas supply and demand.

PM Shehbaz chaired a meeting on Thursday where he was given a detailed briefing regarding the issue of low pressure, interruption, and load shedding of gas in Karachi. The issue of gas load shedding in Karachi was resolved at the Prime Minister’s behest as the meeting addressed Karachi’s citizens’ complaints.

PM Shehbaz took strict notice of the gas load shedding issue raised in Parliament a couple of days ago. Speaking at Parliament, PM Shehbaz assured the National Assembly members that his government would address the issue of gas load-shedding, especially during sehr and iftar, as inflation-weary people have been registering complaints.

He called for the adoption of a comprehensive strategy for smooth gas supply to citizens during Ramadan.

Authorities took emergency measures to end gas load shedding. The Prime Minister emphasised the need for a supervised process of gas supply with zero tolerance for negligence.

Owing to the widening gap between gas supply and demand, the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on Thursday announced its decision to suspend supplies to captive power plants and industries.

The gas utility said that the decision has been taken considering the low supply of gas. It stated that due to a reduction in supply, the volume of gas in pipelines has decreased.

SSGC suspends gas supply

Despite protests by Karachiites, the SSGC suspended the gas supply to captive power plants and industries yesterday and said it would restore the supply from 8am today.

Since last week, scores of residents have protested against the suspension of the gas supply.

The suspension of gas supply has made life difficult for people across the country, who find it difficult to cook, especially during sehr and iftar.

The gas utility said that the decision had been taken considering the low gas supply. It stated that due to a reduction in supply, gas volume in pipelines has decreased.

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Pakistan

Hajj 2023: Last date for application submission extended

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The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Friday announced an extension on the last date for Hajj applications till April 7, 2023. 

According to a recent notification issued by the ministry, the aspirant pilgrims can now submit the Hajj applications under the sponsorship scheme till April 7 (Friday). 

“Now the intending pilgrims may submit their applications by 7th April 2023. It is requested that an extension of the last date for submission of applications under the sponsorship scheme may be communicated to all the missions for publicising the same to overseas Pakistanis,” the statement read.

Earlier, the ministry had ruled out the possibility of an extension of the last date which was March 31 (today) and urged the aspirant pilgrims to submit their Hajj applications and dues in the given time period.

Moreover, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) also issued a list of banks where Hajj applicants can submit their applications and dues. 

S.NoName of the bank 
1Habib Bank Limited 
2United Bank Limited
3National Bank of Pakistan 
4MCB Bank Limited
5Allied Bank Limited
6Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited
7Bank of Punjab 
8Meezan Bank 
9Bank Al-Falah 
10Habib Metropolitan Bank 
11Soneri Bank Limited
12Faysal Bank Limited
13Askari Bank Limited
14Bank Al Habib Limited

“Hajj applications along with Hajj dues are being deposited by the intending pilgrims in the above-designated banks from 16-03-2023 to 02-04-2023,” the statement said. 

It said that the ministry requires that all designated banks may collect applications and dues from the pilgrims on closed holidays ie Saturday and Sunday (April 1 and 2). 

The central bank requested the above-mentioned banks to open all the branches on the said dates to facilitate the pilgrims. 

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124-A: Lahore High Court strikes down sedition law

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LAHORE: Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday annulled Section 124-A, of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), dealing with sedition.

The order of the court came on a set of petitions filed by citizens challenging the sedition law on grounds that the government used it against its rivals.

Justice Karim pronounced the judgment today which was reserved on the petitions of Selman Abuzar Niazi and others.

The petitions had challenged the registration of cases under sedition provisions against those who spoke against the government.

It was argued in the petition that the sedition act was enacted in 1860 which is a sign of British colonial rule.

It added that this law was used for slaves under which a case can be registered on anyone’s request.

It was stated in the petition that the Constitution of Pakistan gives every citizen the right to freedom of expression but still, Section 124-A is imposed for making speeches against the rulers.

According to the petitioners, Section 124-A of sedition is being used for political purposes and should be struck down.

What is Section 124-A of PPC?

Sedition: Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Federal or Provincial Government established by law shall be punished with imprisonment for life to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.

Explanation 1: The expression disaffection includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity.

Explanation 2: Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures of the Government with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.

Explanation 3: Comments expressing disapprobation of the administrative or other action of the Government without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.

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