Following the announcement of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, 2,800 corruption cases have been investigated, the CEO’s deputy spokesman Jawed Faisal said on Sunday. 

Faisal said the focus has been on investigating corruption in judicial institutions and that so far over 200 judges and prosecutors have been dismissed or their cases are under investigation. 

The strategy, announced last year, has five principles that includes transparency in policies, good leadership, good financial and resources management, transparency in the recruitment process and establishment of a special court to probe cases of land-grabbing. 

“Fighting corruption is one of our long-term priorities. Based on the strategy, we have investigated 2,800 cases of which 400 have been sent to the Anti-Corruption Justice Center (ACJC),” said Faisal. 

Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA) officials meanwhile said the National Unity Government’s efforts are not enough in terms of fighting corruption, because no significant changes have been made to the day-to-day lives of the people. 

“The strategy has not brought any changes to people’s lives. The problem is that there is not an independent institution to implement the strategy,” IWA researcher Nasir Timori said. 

Government said it has recovered millions of dollars from corrupt people following the implementation of the anti-corruption strategy. No amounts were however given.

A number of MPs in the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) meanwhile said in some cases government does not have the power to implement the law on corrupt people. 

“Government knows the corrupt people, but does not have the power to prosecute them,” MP Qazi Abdul Rahim said.  

The institutions fighting corruption in the country also said they are concerned about the lack of an independent and authorized department to implement the strategy.