‘Corruption is the biggest security threat’

Students advised to focus on character building and to be punctual, disciplined.

PESHAWAR: “As Muslims we accord high value to Islamic rituals instead of applying its teachings in practical life,” said Director General of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Brig Musaddiq Abbasi on Tuesday. The official stated this during a seminar on “Prevention of Corruption through Internal and External Accountability” held here at the Agriculture University Peshawar.

The seminar was part of the week-long programmes being held at the university to commemorate International Anti Corruption Day on December 9.

“Corruption is the biggest security threat to any country,” said Abbasi.

“It is a moral failure and the root cause of all evils.” He said that corruption can be curbed by practicing the teachings of Islam and described belief, prayers and ethics as inter-related components of a poised society.

NAB chief urged students to focus on character building and to be punctual, disciplined and honest. He added that a Muslim state — as commanded in the Holy Quran — needs to have 100 per cent educated population.

Brig Mussadiq said that according to a survey conducted by a British think tank, there was “no democracy within the democratic system in Pakistan”. He said that South Korea is the 13th fastest growing economy of the world by focusing on the education sector of the country.

He said that Pakistan was the 7th most legislative country of the world with laws framed for all most all sphere of life but regretted that due to lack of implementation we stand as 34 most legislative country of the world. He called for awareness among the masses about their rights and duties and also underscored the need for prevention and enforcement as other measures for rooting out corruption.

“It is never too late,” the state must take measures to curb corruption and to meet the needs of the people, he added. Later, teachers and students of the university — along with Brig Mussadiq — participated in a walk against corruption.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2010.