ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid on Tuesday said the state organs must be allowed to function independently and that the continuity of democracy was essential for putting an end to the scourge of corruption. Talking to a private TV channel, the minister, however, admitted that interrogating people for involvement in white collar crime was a complicated affair. He also linked elimination of corruption from the country with coordinated functioning of the country’s institutions. The minister’s comments came hours after Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif said the on-going war against extremism and terrorism cannot bring enduring peace and stability in the country unless the menace of corruption is uprooted, stressing the need for across the board accountability to secure a better future for generations to come. Pervaiz described purging the country of corruption as the incumbent government’s foremost priority, adding the prime minister himself came forward and constituted an inquiry commission after revelations by Panama Papers. Pervaiz Rashid, citing a report of Transparency International, said terrorism has witnessed a visible decline in the country. He said the mega projects executed during the incumbent government’s term so far reflect transparency. The minister termed accountability of yesteryears as shocking and ludicrous. “They used to commit corruption in the garb of politics and politics under the cover of corruption,” he said.