Pledge to establish corruption-free society reiterated: international day observed

'The International Day Against Corruption' was observed in Pakistan like other parts of the globe on Thursday with a firm resolve to continue efforts for creating a corruption free society through raising awareness among the people against corrupt practices and people.
Walks and other functions were held to create hatred against corrupt elements in the society and express resolve to fight corruption with full potential. While addressing a prize distribution ceremony at Alhamra Art Centre, the newly appointed Chief Justice of Lahore High Court, Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry slammed prevailing corruption in society and said that the corrupt must be punished with death sentence. The event was organised by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Punjab.
The CJ said: "In the past, only lower rank officials were arrested for corruption and others were not tried in the court of law. In the past years, dictatorships were imposed to weed out corruption from the society, but the rulers of those times themselves indulged in corruption." He further said, "We are Muslims but we do not care about ethics and we cheat each other. On the other hand, non-Muslims countries follow basic human values." He commended NAB for arresting high-ranking officials in a bid to eradicate corruption from society.
Speaking on the occasion, Director General NAB Punjab, former Justice, Rana Zahid Mahmood said that corruption must be weeded out, and called for making efforts in this regard at all levels. Earlier, the CJ inaugurated the photography cum paintings exhibition of students, which had the theme 'corruption'.
To mark the day, FIA Punjab officials also held 'Anti-Corruption Walk' from their office to Regal Chowk in a bid to show their commitment against corruption. Additional Director General FIA, Mian Riaz led the walk in which participants were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against corruption.
The participants of the walk expressed their resolve to eradicate the menace of corruption from society. They said eradication of corruption is a must for the progress of the country. They added that corruption entails serious impediments to economic growth.
It may be noted that on October 31, 2003, the United Nations Assembly declared 9th of December as World Anti Corruption Day each year. The first annual international anti-corruption day was conducted in Merida on December 9th, 2004. Since then, it is convened to fight corruption with full potential around the world.
Pakistan is among the most corrupt countries in the world, moving up from 42nd position to 34th in year 2010, according to the Corruption Perceptions Index including 178 most corrupt states, revealed by the Transparency International in Pakistan. During last two years, there have been a number of cases of corruption involving billions of rupees in public sector organisations. However, investigation of such cases is underway. In Pakistan, NAB and anti corruption agencies are working for eradication of corruption.
Keeping substantial pace with the world, Government of Pakistan ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) stipulating and committing to adopt policies based on transparency and accountability in governance.
On the other hand, opposition blames the government for withholding the new accountability law. For the progress and development of country, eradication of corruption is necessary. Corruption has emerged as a deadly phenomenon that has been eating into the cultural, political and economic fabric of society, and destroying the very functioning of vital state organs, leader of main opposition party-PML-N said.
PML-N leader Mohammad Pervaiz Malik said his party is determined to eradicate the menace of corruption from the society through stringent accountability law. He said PML-N Chief, Mian Nawaz Sharif wants end of corruption and is even ready for holding long march, if need arises, in this regard.
Sources in NAB said they have made strides against the menace of corruption that distorts resource allocation, undermines rule of law, threatens integrity of markets and adversely affects fair competition.
According to NAB Chairman, corruption is acknowledged as a world-wide phenomenon. It is considered as too serious and dangerous a scourge like terrorism. Awareness against the acts of corruption, bribery and white collar crime has increased manifold. Voices and concerns against corruption resound and reverberate across the globe. Corruption overwhelms the whole fabric of society and badly effects the common man.