ISLAMABAD, June 15: The chairman National Accountability Bureau, Lt-Gen Munir Hafiez, on Saturday presented first annual report-2001 of NAB to President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The president appreciated the untiring efforts of Chairman NAB and members of his organization at ridding the country of the scourge of corruption and white-collar crime.

The president emphasised that the people had high expectations from National Accountability Bureau and it was imperative for it to continue with the process of fair, even-handed and transparent accountability. He commended the National Accountability Bureau team for the excellent annual report.

The report contained an exposition of the operations and working methodology of National Accountability Bureau and highlighted related measures devised for the induction of an environment of integrity and accountability consonant with the Islamic principles of justice, honesty and fair play. It provided an insight into the organization, functioning and performance of the process of accountability being conducted in the country by the National Accountability Bureau.

The NAB Ordinance was promulgated on Nov 16, 1999 and extends to the whole of Pakistan. It applies to all persons in Pakistan and persons who are or have been in the service of Pakistan wherever they maybe, including areas which are part of the Federally and Provincially Administered tribal Areas.

The National Accountability Bureau Ordinance was designed to circumvent various forms of corruption and weaknesses of earlier laws. It was also innovative in introducing concepts like plea-bargaining and wilful default.

For the first time in the history of the country, the recovery of plundered wealth has been given high priority.

Anti-corruption measures fall into three broad categories: prevention, monitoring and combating.

Public awareness and participation through transparency of operations remain the key pillars of prevention.

It is hoped that the National Accountability Bureau Annual Report will further serve the use of fair and even-handed accountability in the country.

The annual report is a public document and will also be placed on the National Accountability Bureau website.—APP