Accountability goes hand in hand with democracy and serves to strengthen democratic norms by deterring corruption through checks and balances. Islamabad High Court’s restoration of disqualification to ten years for people convicted under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) is a good step in upholding the accountability regime. Earlier, in a case, the disqualification period was reduced to five years which was in contrast with the NAB’s regulations. The restoration of the ten-year disqualification period emphasises the court’s commitment to upholding the integrity of anti-corruption measures. This legal development underscores the judiciary’s role in maintaining the efficacy of accountability laws and indirectly boosting people’s trust in the electoral process.

Source: The Nation January 05, 2024 15:30 UTC