KHAIRPUR: Corruption is a perpetual menace infecting the development process of a state. It has plagued most developing countries. It has a destroying effect for a state’s security as it causes moral degradation.

These observations were made by Shah Abdul Latif University (Salu), Khairpur, vice chancellor Prof Dr Parveen Shah while presiding over a seminar on “Corruption and its impact on socio-economic development” jointly organised by the Sukkur National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Salu’s Character Building Society on Thursday.

Prof Shah stressed the need for eliminating corruption in Pakistan by prosecuting and punishing each and every corrupt official in order to restore the nation’s credibility. She called for stringent measures in this regard.

Speaking as the chief guest, Sukkur NAB director general Altaf Bawany said that fighting corruption was a collective social responsibility.

The dream of turning Pakistan into a corruption-free society would remain elusive unless the entire nation rose against the menace.

He said NAB had revived and reintegrated its corruption awareness and prevention drive, adding that CBSs had been established at universities and colleges for the very purpose.

Retired Justice Syed Ali Aslam Jafferi talked on the “Role of the judiciary in combating corruption with reference to NAB laws”. He traced the history of accountability of government officials at grassroot level from 1947 till date and said that right from revenue officials and policemen to clerks people were trapped and prosecuted. However, 80 per cent of the cases could not be proved due to flawed investigations.

The ‘Ehtesab Bureau’ was established for political victimisation, he observed, and stressed the need for fair and proper investigations in such cases.

Prof Dr Asan Das Manwani and Dr Manzoor Ali Isran of the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology, Jan Mohammed Oadhano from Jacobabad also spoke.

The dean Faculty of Social Sciences and Arts welcomed the guests and shed light on the aims and objectives of CBS.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2015

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