Pak can hardly expect aid in absence of anti-corruption law: Transparency International

Islamabad, Sep.24 (ANI): Just when Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who is currently in New York to participate in the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) meeting, was eyeing utilizing the high profile summit to urge the international community to help Islamabad overcome the crises facing it at present, a report by a global anti-corruption watchdog has served a heavy blow to Zardari's aspirations.

A report by the Transparency International has questioned Pakistan's request from the donor countries to help the troubled nation in spite of the prevalent massive corruption in the country.

"How can one expect from any donor to come forward to assist Pakistan from its current financial crisis, when there exist no law against corruption," the report said.

Releasing the report, Transparency International's (TI) Pakistan chief Adeel Gilani said that anti-corruption measures in Pakistan took a "180 degree turn after former President General Pervez Musharraf issued the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in October 2007."

"The NRO has also granted further protection to the parliamentarians, as no sitting Member of Parliament or a provincial assembly can be arrested without taking into consideration the recommendations of the special parliamentary committees on ethics, which are not formed yet," The News quoted Gilani, as saying.

According to the TI report, approximately 15 per cent of the cost of corruption in Pakistan lies in procurement, costing the country's development budget over 150 billion rupees. (ANI)