KARACHI: On Saturday, Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) made a call to Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister, and other government representatives, pleading with them to resolve the issue of the protracted passage of Whistleblower Protection Acts at the federal and provincial levels.
Regarding the delay in passing Whistleblower Protection Acts, TIP has written letters to Speakers of the national and provincial assemblies, the Senate Chairman, Chief Ministers of provinces, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Effective whistleblower protection laws are essential for promoting integrity, thwarting corruption, and fostering an atmosphere in which citizens can report misbehavior without fear of retaliation, according to the anti-corruption agency.
TIP notes that Articles 8.4 and 13.2 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) require governments to enact legislative measures, noting that Pakistan joined the UNCAC in 2007.
TIP requests that laws pertaining to the reporting and protection of whistleblowers be passed by the federal government as well as the provinces of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan in order to comply with UNCAC rules. This entails putting in place suitable reporting channels and safety precautions that comply with UNCAC regulations.
TIP also mentioned that numerous attempts to pass laws protecting whistleblowers had previously failed; one such attempt was the May 2019 National Assembly presentation of the Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Act, 2019, which was later withdrawn by the Ministry of Law.
