PESHAWAR - National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Admiral (Retd) Fasih Bokhari has reiterated that NAB has taken cognizance of mega corruption cases and evolved a multi-pronged strategy to end this menace.
He said this while addressing an ant-corruption seminar at NAB office in Peshawar. Governor KPK Barrister Masood Kausar was chief guest on the occasion. Dr Abdul Matin, Dr Qibla Ayaz and Advisor Ms Feryal Ali Gauhar also spoke on the occasion.
Fasih Bukhari said that whistle blowing against corruption is encouraging sign and good omen for the future of the country. He appreciated NAB (KPK) efforts under Awareness Programme by arranging seminars. The ceremony was attended by senior Govt Officials, Vice Chancellors, Members from the civil society, Bankers and students.
KPK Governor Barrister Masood Kausar linked eradication of corruption to provision of social justice, equal opportunities of education health etc. He quoted saying of Caliph Hazrat Ali (RA) That “A state can survive with” Kufr” but cannot survive with tyranny”. He added that proper research is needed to dig out the real causes of corruption. Educational institutions can play a vital role as they are the fountain of wisdom. He advised to focus on character building and also lauded the efforts of NAB (KPK) in this regard. He stressed to focus on mega corruption cases.
Dr Abdul Matin in his thought provoking speech covered psychological aspects of corruption, good and evil forces.
He opined that uncontrolled whistle blowing can only result into anarchy and disorder adding that whistle blowing be proportionate to our own capacity and requirement.
Prof Dr. Qibla Ayaz, VC University of Peshawar threw light on the religious aspects of whistle blowing. Ms Feryal Ali Gauher said that protection should be given to the whistle blowers and witnesses. She appreciated the efforts of NAB for conducting seminar on such important issue.
Earlier briefing the participants, DG NAB KPK Colonel (Retd) Khurshid Alam expressed that ultimate goal of whistle blowing is to protect public interest by raising voice against malpractices, fraud and exposing corruption. Corruption cannot be contained without encouraging and protecting whistle blowers.
He added that though NAB Ordinance 1999 has given protection to the witnesses but there is a need, to make proper legislation for whistle blowing and witness protection as practiced in certain developed countries.
Meanwhile, keeping in view the increasing cases of violence against women in society, a helpline system was launched aiming at providing services for the addressal of women problems and creating awareness about their basic rights and ending the growing violence.
A research-based organisation working specifically on women issues Thursday formally inaugurated a helpline in the name of “Madadgar Helpline” here in a press conference here at press club. The organisation Executive Director, Saba Ismail along with program director Haleema and Helpline Incharge, Fatima Saeed, and women rights activists were present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Saba said that the ratio of violence against women was increasing with each passing day, where a woman died within a half hour ration due to health issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She informed that govt had mad legislation on violence against women, meant to protect the basic rights of women and take stern legal action against the violators, but despite that women were feeling themselves insecure due to non-implementation of the regulations.
Ms Saba further said that extremism and intolerance in society were the basic factors behind the increasing ratio of violence against women, adding in the prevailing situation the cases were observed in greater number. Similarly, due to lake of proper legislation to end the growing domestic violence is also a matter of concern, she added.
About the basic purpose of the helpline, she said that the service would play a positive role to help control the increasing violence cases against women, and develop awareness level about their rights.