PESHAWAR, Dec 8: Speakers at a seminar on corruption on Saturday underlined the need for abiding by the Islamic principles of halal and haram to root out corruption from society. They said an independent judiciary was needed to deal effectively with the menace of corruption.

The seminar was organised here jointly by the government of the NWFP and the Frontier chapter of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Archives Main Hall. The theme of the seminar was “Improvement in transparency and control mechanisms within the government departments for ensuring relief to the common man”.

The NWFP Caretaker Chief Minister, Shamsul Mulk, was the chief guest. Provincial Minister for Industries Bashir Wali Mohmand, former chief secretary Abdullah and establishment secretary Mian Sahib Jan also addressed the seminar. Cabinet members, heads of various government departments and other officers were present on the occasion.

Mr Mulk said inefficiencies in a system gave rise to corruption, adding that the system inherited by his government was a deeply flawed one.

The chief minister said unlimited authority and discretionary powers automatically invited corruption which could only be checked through an in-built mechanism for accountability.

He said corruption had moral, physical and psychological dimensions to it which required appropriate and timely response. “It is a complex issue. Change and reforms are always resisted by vested interests.”

The message given by the international community against corruption, he said, was good but a more comprehensive message had been put forward by Islam more than 1,400 years ago.

He said the Muslims had adopted the teachings of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) as Sunnah, but ignored his personal conduct which was very unfortunate.

Mr Mulk attributed the growing menace of corruption to the “total break down” of government institutions as well as to the failure of the people to deal with it effectively at the societal level.

Despite having institutions aimed at checking corruption, the procedures involved were weak, the chief minister added. He said that if the people had an efficient system and saw their work being done in a timely fashion, they would not go for “objectionable solutions”.

Minister Bashir Wali Mohmand said that it was not the responsibility of the National Accountability Bureau alone to eradicate corruption. Rather, it was the collective responsibility of the society to work for its elimination.

Former chief secretary Abdullah said that anything that disrupted harmony, order and beauty of life could be described as corruption. He said that corruption was a moral failure and it could not be justified as an economic compulsion.

The director-general of NAB (Frontier) highlighted the measures undertaken for elimination of corruption in the province. He appreciated the government of the NWFP for its assistance and cooperation in operational functioning of the NAB (F).