'Strengthening of institutes could eliminate corruption'

Director General National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Brigadier Musaddiq Hussein Abbasi (Retd) has stressed strengthening of institutes for elimination of corruption from the society. Addressing a seminar held under the auspices of Character Building Society of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Agriculture University in connection with World Anti-Corruption Week on Tuesday, he said that corruption is impeding progress and development of the country.
"No concrete plan has so far been chalked out for elimination of corruption and corrupt practices from the society and improvement of accountability system in the history of the country," he remarked.
The situation, DG NAB observed, is going from bad to worse due to rampant corruption and non-existence of staunch and independent accountability system. He further said the growing needs and wishes of the common man are basic causes of corruption in the society. He attributed the collapse of the former Soviet Union to rampant corruption in their society.
He blamed military dictators for derailing democracy and undermining institutes of the state. He called democracy the mother of all systems, saying that whenever it was uprooted, culture of corruption nurtured in the society. Giving example of People Republic of China, he said that the second largest economy of the world has ideal anti-corruption laws.
In reference to present situation in Pakistan, he said that judiciary and media have 'emerged as silver line in the society while executive and legislature were in darkness'. Brigadier Abbasi called for individual efforts for elimination of corruption from the society, adding that it would be difficult to replace the existing system. He further said that five principles, punctuality, truthfulness, positive thinking and following of Islamic norms will make the task of the elimination of corruption accomplished.
Acting Vice Chancellor, Khyber-Paktunkwa, Agricultural University, Peshawar, Professor Dr Mohammad Naeem, Colonel Waheed (Retd) from NAB, Mufti Ilatemas also spoke on the occasion. A large number of students and officials of the varsity attended the seminar. Later, they staged a walk to raise awareness of corruption. They were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against corruption in the society.