Corrupt elements being held accountable, says President Alvi

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has on Monday said Pakistan is passing through a defining moment where corrupt elements are being held accountable across the board.

Addressing a seminar in connection with International Anti-Corruption Day, the president said it is a new era in Pakistan as there is a realisation among the people that the country was plundered over the last seventy years.

He regretted that in the past accountability was used for political victimisation, but now there is a hope in the country that this process will move forward in an unpoliticised manner.

Appreciating the performance of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the president expressed confidence that the anti-graft body will fulfill its responsibility about the fairness of accountability.

The president said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has waged a long struggle against corruption. He noted that the number of cases against previous governments will be higher as they spent more time in power.

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He stressed that the process of accountability must start from the influential and the most powerful. He said as per the NAB laws, the onus rests on the accused persons to give details of their properties and assets beyond their known means. The president said it is also incumbent upon the society to abhor corruption as a dark blot and ostracise the corrupt elements.

In his speech on the occasion, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser said no country can develop without checking the corruption.

He called for greater collaboration among different institutions in order to effectively cope with this menace. He assured that Parliament will fulfill its responsibility regarding effective legislation.

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Speaking on the occasion, Chairman NAB Javed Iqbal said the anti graft body has recovered 382 billion rupees from the corrupt elements since its inception.

He said that 1261 references valuing about 943 billion rupees are pending before the accountability courts. He said the NAB does not believe in any political victimisation and it is taking across the board action without any pressure or influence.

He said their goal is to rid the country of this curse and the entire nation should support us to achieve it. He said it is the first time that influential people are being held accountable.