Investigative media reports on graft to be probed

KABUL (Pajhwok): All investigative reports on administrative graft in the country are being investigated, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) announced on Sunday.

A number of other government agencies are part of the anti-graft panel, which was recently set up in compliance with a special decree from President Ashraf Ghani.

In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, ACC spokesman Feroz Bashari said transparency, asset registration and special counter-corruption agencies had been merged into the commission.

Headed by former deputy attorney general Qayyum Nizami, the five-member panel would probe from now on media reports regarding the scourge of corruption, he said.

He added a mechanism had been created to ensure that those found guilty of corruption in line with media reports would be referred directly to the Attorney-General Office (AGO).

The ACC spokesman urged the public to share any information, documents and evidence of corruption with the commission. The informer’s identity would be kept secret, he promised.

Bashari said combating corruption was one of the government's top priorities. Eradicating corruption from the country was their national duty and obligation, he remarked.

The official explained: "There entire government isn’t corrupt, a few corrupt individuals have tarnished the image of the government."

He assured the corrupt, at home or abroad, could not stay safe forever, and one day they would be brought to justice. Discussions were ongoing with AGO on on arresting and referring to judicial organs the individuals involved in major graft cases.

Bashari believed the war corruption should become a national culture. The corrupt must be held accountable irrespective of their political, ethnic and cultural affiliations, he stressed.

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