PESHAWAR, Jun 22 (APP):Transparency International (TI) Pakistan has stressed upon parl
iamentarians at federal and provincial levels to give attention attention towards the enactment of Whist
leblower Protection Acts in the country.
In a press statement issued here on Saturday, TI Pakistan noted that effective whist
leblower protection laws are essential for the progress of integrity, eliminating corruption from the country and fostering an environment where citizens can report misconduct without fear of retaliation. TI Pakista
n further highlighted that the Government of Pakistan ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2007.
Articles 8.4 and 13.2 of UNCAC mandate governments to implement legal measures that protect whist
leblowers, the statement added.
To ensure compliance with UNCAC provisions, TI Pakistan called on the federal government and the provincial governments of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan to enact laws regarding the reporting and protection of whistle-blowers, which include adequate reporting mechanisms and protective measures, in line with the UNCAC requirements.
TI Pakistan has also highlighted that there have been attempts to introduce whist
leblower protection legislation in the past, including in May 2019, when Whist
leblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Act, 2019 bill was presented in the National Assembly, however, it was later withdrawn.
TI Pakista
n further emphasised that while the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has passed the Whist
leblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Act 2016, the province must establish Whist
leblower Protection and Vigilance Commission as mandated under Section 3 of the Act.
