December 19, 2002	Thursday	Shawwal 14, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 18: Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Lt-Gen Munir Hafiez, has stated that a Financial Intelligence Unit is being established in the country to annul financial corruption.

He told newsmen here on Wednesday that the unit, having a focus on financial embezzlement and fraud, would work closely with the finance ministry and NAB to fight corruption.

The NAB chief, briefing the journalists, also gave detail of various aspects of an ongoing accountability drive.

The National Anti-Corruption Strategy, he said, could only be effective if we had the support of the leadership. “I met the prime minister because it is the government which has to ensure that this process continues,” he said.

“The prime minister has lent unequivocal support to me, emphasizing that this pro-cess (of accountability) must continue,” Lt-Gen Munir Hafiez said.

He dispelled the impression that in the present political set-up the NAB would play a silent role and would not watch politicians, and said that five sitting elected members were under investigation. The NAB had also recovered Rs160 million in a record period of three years, he added.

The NAB chief said President Gen Pervez Musharraf was also appreciative of NAB’s role while Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali had reiterated resolve to ensure eradication of corruption.

Munir Hafiez referred to a briefing he had held before the prime minister recently, in which he had dwelt on the performance of the bureau and its future goals. “I am very reassured from the level of support I got from the prime minister,” he stated.

He said the NAB was going to carry on its efforts to make accountable those who had plundered the national ex-chequer, and eradicate corruption from all sections of the society.

Eradicating corruption, he said, was an unending endeavour requiring collective and devoted efforts, and called upon the newsmen to participate objectively in the awareness campaign to root out corruption and educating the people about the work being undertaken by the NAB.

He said the NAB was an independent and autonomous organization, which took pride in not seeking directions from anyone.

The NAB chief said ‘Pakistan First’ is the laid down national policy, faithful adherence to which meant equality, merit, progress and prosperity.—APP