Pakistan’s Anti-Corruption Legal Regime: A Story of Political Rag Tag

Asim Murtaza Cheema1, Marium Fatima2 & Muhammad Irfan Mahsud3

Abstract
Corruption has been recognized as a globally organised crime with
overwhelming damage to economies of less developed countries. Pakistan dealing
with brunt of corruption failed to curb corruption owing to inherent fault-lines
with anti-corruption legal and Institutional framework. The political governments
counterpoised the anti-corruption legislations with legal, procedural and judicial
lacunas to the advantage of their party members. This paper attempts to identify
the reasons for failed institutional initiatives for repatriation of stolen assets back
to country and how Pakistan failed to benefit from international cooperation
through Mutual Legal Assistance. This paper would also explore the internal
politicking between state institutions frustrating the due process of law to recover
proceeds of corruption with special reference to legal manipulation of criminal
proceedings in Panama Leaks Corruption Case.

Keywords: National Accountability Bureau; Corruption; Mutual Legal Assistance; Asset Repatriation; Panama Leaks