Anti-corruption commission

The debate, however, is far from over, though the experts have reached the understanding that the anti-corruption commission should be formed without wasting any more time. The point that they are trying to make is quite obvious -- corruption is eating into the vitals of the nation.

It has transpired from the deliberations made at a roundtable last Thursday that jurists, lawyers and politicians want the panel to be a neutral one. An opposition leader observed that both the ruling party and the opposition nominees should be included on the panel but they should not be party members, because the presence of political representatives might give it a partisan character.

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There is no doubt that the proposed commission should be a neutral body with a high level of motivation and commitment to combating corruption. The task of the government and the opposition is to work together and allow the proposed commission, once it is formed, to function smoothly.

However, it is the government, which has to remove the doubts that have crept into the minds of its detractors. What is crucially important here is to make all concerned believe that the anti-corruption commission is going to be a truly impartial body, not influenced by extraneous factors. The challenge is not only to make the Commission independent, but also to give it sufficient power and authority so that we all can feel confident that it is independent.

Apart from being a stumbling block in the way to development, corruption has badly bruised the country's image internationally. Good governance will ever remain an elusive goal if all-pervasive corruption is allowed to have its crippling effect on governmental activities. So formation of the independent anti-corruption commission is a national priority which should remain above party agenda. We believe that implementing it with sincerity will greatly enhance present government's credibility and public support.