October 8, 2003	Wednesday	Sha’aban 11, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: The United Nations General Assembly’s special committee has concluded its deliberations on the Convention Against Corruption, providing that the assets accumulated by corruption by officials should be returned to the countries of their origin.

An announcement by the National Accountability Bureau said the developed countries dragged their feet on the issue of returning the money but finally yielded to the pressure of the Group of 77 and China, which had lent its support to the provision tabled by Pakistan.

The final text provides for facilitation of return of illicitly-acquired assets in the developed world. The convention could prove to be a helpful tool in the recovery of ill-gotten wealth from high-level corruption in Pakistan and stashed in the Western countries, it said.

The committee of the UN General Assembly, which had been assigned the task of drafting an international convention against corruption, concluded its proceedings on Oct 6, adopting a final draft of the instrument after extensive negotiations extending over two years.

Pakistan’s Ambassador in Vienna Ali Sarwar Naqvi represented the NAB in the deliberations. He was assisted by a lawyer, Ahmer Bilal Soofi.

A UN announcement said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement, had termed the convention one of the most significant instruments which should benefit and bring welfare to millions of people around the world.

The convention is the first international instrument of its kind, which addresses transactional aspects of corruption, affecting the developing states.

The country’s delegation played a lead role on behalf of the developing states and succeeded in getting included a number of its proposals, besides improving upon several suggestions considered useful for them.