60 % perceive political parties highly corrupt

The Nation-Published: June 06, 2009

ISLAMABAD (PPI) - Almost 60 percent Pakistanis think the level of corruption in political parties is high or very high, followed by parliament (57%) and private/business sector (41%), according to a Gilani Research Foundation survey carried out by Gallup Pakistan.

It is interesting to note that religious organizations are perceived to have little or no corruption by 58%, followed by the Pakistan Army (41%) and Media (32%). It must be noted that we are dealing with perceptions, which may or may not match reality.

Those seen as cleanest might have the most compromised behavior and vice versa. Our data only deals with, as Pakistanis perceive them to be, said the Survey. A nationally representative sample of men and women from across the country were asked to evaluate the level of corruption in a number of public and private organizations. Political parties were perceived as corrupt by the highest percentage of respondents.

Sixty percent (60%) believe they have high or very high levels of corruption; only 11% think there is little or no corruption and 18% think there is some corruption. Eleven percent (11%) were unsure or gave no response.

Unfortunately, political parties are followed by the Parliament, seen as highly corrupt by 57% of the respondents. Only 14% said there is little or no corruption while 21% claimed there is some corruption in the parliament. Eight percent (8%) were unsure or gave no response, it said.

It said private sector/businesses is considered to have a high level of corruption by 41% of the respondents and 29% believe private sector is corrupted to some extent; 22% of the respondents claimed there is little or no corruption. Eight percent (8%) were unsure or gave no response.

It said non-governmental organizations and the media enjoy mixed reputation. NGOs are seen as highly corrupt by 35% and media by 33% of the respondents. On a five-point scale, 25% believe that there is little or no corruption in NGOs, 24% said there is some corruption but the majority, 35% of the respondents, still thinks NGOs have a high or a very high level of corruption. Fifteen percent (15%) of the respondents were unsure or gave no response.

As for media 32% perceive it to be mostly corruption free, 25% believe it has some corruption, but again a third of the respondents (33%) consider it to be highly corrupt. Eleven percent (11%) were unsure or gave no response.

Interestingly the Pakistan Army is believed to be corruption free by the majority (41%) of the respondents. A third (32%) thinks there is high or very high level of corruption while 19% said it has some corruption. Nine percent (9%) were unsure or gave no response, the Survey said.

Amongst all these organizations listed, religious groups were ranked to be the least corrupt as 58% of the respondents claimed these groups have little or no corruption while only 15% said religious groups have high or a very high rate of corruption. In the survey, eighteen percent (18%) said there is some corruption in these religious groups. Ten percent (10%) were unsure or gave no response.

It is interesting to notice that proportionately high percentage frugalities as compared to urbanites consider religious groups as corruption free.