It is only after the international community has emphasized to a great extent in recent announcement of more than expected funds for Afghanistan in Tokyo Conference, that Afghan authorities have started depicting that they are committed to fight corruption. They need to realize that eradicating corruption is not only necessary to satisfy the international community and grab some funds, it is important because it will benefit Afghan society in so many ways.
In addition, Afghanistan needs a comprehensive and determined strategy to root out the evil of corruption from Afghan society, not mere verbal insistence.
On Sunday, July 15, High Office of Oversight and Anti-Corruption (HOOAC) head Azizullah Lodin, commenting on the ways to stop corruption suggested that security problems must be resolved and the general public must cooperate fully.
He also highlighted a point that even if several organizations like HOOAC were created, corruption in government departments could not be solved unless there is cooperation from the masses. He mentioned that despite problems and challenges, HOOAC had been able to send 119 cases of corruption to the Attorney General's Office (AGO). However, only some of the cases were being investigated and others remained untouched.
There is no doubt that without the cooperation of the masses it is difficult to eradicate the menace of corruption; however, it is not to suggest that the offices and endeavors by the government to curb corruption can throw their share of burden on the shoulder of the public.
The government has to lead from the front and they have to make sure that honest efforts are made in this regard as the government is in a better position to do so for it has authority and resources. Nevertheless, the government formed organizations to curb corruption have faced various problems.
The establishment of HOOAC was carried out by government in June 2008, after the increase in international pressure to curb corruption. However, it, after eighteen months, was declared as in-efficient and lacking the necessary authority and independence to pursue the cases of corruption by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.
Hearing that, the international community started putting more pressure on Karzia government for the establishment of corruption commission but instead the government opted for Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (MEC). The leadership of this committee was once again given to the same leadership as that of HOOAC, which upon further criticism was given to Azizullah Lodin, the ex-head of the international election committee, which was charged with the case of 2009 election fraud.
The anti-corruption tribunal and Major Crimes Task Force (MCFT) established afterwards also could not prove to be as promising as they were meant to be. The Bill Shaw controversy proved to be the first blow for the anti-corruption tribunal, which was then followed by the arrest of Mohammad Zia Salehi and Noorullah Delawari – Both aide to President Karzai, on bribery and corruption charges and the interference of the President, which resulted in their release.
In short, it can be said that anti-corruption tribunals and committees or task forces are all useless unless they are given the independence and authority they require for their work. It is not the name that matters, the essential factor for any anti-corruption organization is its capability to sue even the most influential persons in the society.
Every person in the society must be treated alike by the law. The law that favors the elite and the ruling class is bound to nurture corruption, and that is exactly what is happening in Afghanistan and as a result there are many from amongst the ruling elite who are involved in major embezzlements and incidents of corruption.