Law minister says Whistleblower Protection Bill will be adopted soon

Published October 26, 2018
Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Dr Muhammad Farogh Naseem addresses press conference at his office. —APP
Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Dr Muhammad Farogh Naseem addresses press conference at his office. —APP

Federal Law Minister Dr Farogh Naseem on Friday said that a draft of the Whistleblower Protection Bill has been prepared which will be tabled before the parliament for approval to validate the establishment of Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission, Radio Pakistan reported.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad this evening, the law minister said the legislation will also include protections for whistleblowers.

Dr Naseem announced that any person who shares information about alleged corrupt practices will be given 20 per cent of the recovered amount as a reward.

Editorial: Whistleblowers bill

The law minister said that a commission will also be set up, comprising people of moral integrity from the public or private sector, which will assess the complaints and refer them to investigation agencies including National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and anti-corruption establishments. "The commission will have wide-ranging powers to check corruption," he added.

Dr Naseem said the draft law is part of government's drive to expose and root out the menace corruption from the society.

Replying to a question, the law minister said the commission will work impartially and on a non-partisan basis.

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