PESHAWAR: National Accountability, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, director general Farmanullah Khan on Monday claimed that the rate of conviction in corruption references filed by the bureau’s provincial chapter with the accountability courts in the last two decades was around 70 percent.

Addressing a seminar on ‘transparency and good governance for better service delivery’ in connection with the Anti-Corruption Day at the Governor’s House here, the NAB DG said the bureau’s provincial chapter had received 46,000 corruption complaints, conducted 1,800 inquiries and 740 investigations, and filed 520 references with accountability courts against people from both public and private sectors since its establishment two decades ago.

He added that the NAB defended the references in accountability courts well and therefore, conviction rate for those cases stood at

Mr Farmanullah said the bureau had recovered more than Rs297 billion from corrupt people, while international organisations, including World Economic Forum, and survey reports praised it for anti-corruption initiatives.

Governor calls for collective efforts against corruption

He said corruption undermined development and the rule of law, caused violation of human rights, eroded quality of life, distorted markets and thus, adversely affecting economy and people.

“We have to focus on the improvement of system, which is possible only through good governance,” he said.

The DG also called for joint efforts on part of all segments of society to eradicate corruption from the country.

He expressed concern about corrupt practices in universities and other educational institutions and urged the governor to ensure corrective measures.

The governor, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said all members of society had to act to root out corruption by helping the anti-graft agencies like NAB.

He said the rule of law and accountability were the major components of good governance and transparency in affairs.

The governor stressed the need for creating awareness of corruption among children and mobilising society to create hatred against corrupt people.

“We should work collectively to make our country particularly KP a model of good governance. Our sincere efforts, strong commitment and above all political will can turn this cherished goal into a reality,” he said.

The governor later distributed awards among NAB employees and university and college students on good performance.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2018