NA body approves 'The Public Interest Disclosures Bill, 2017'

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice Wednesday unanimously approved 'The Public Interest Disclosures Bill, 2017' after detailed discussion.

The NA body met here under the chairmanship of MNA Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk and attended by other members including Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha, Kiran Haider, Mumtaz Ahmed Tarar, Asiya Naz Tanoli, Shagufta Jumani, S.A. Iqbal Quadri and Arif Alvi.

Minister for Law and Justice, Zahid Hamid informed the body that the bill would help control corruption in departments. The informers of corruption and irregularities would be protected and their names would be kept secret under this law, he added.

The employee would be able to complain the head of any department regarding the mismanagement and corruption.

The head of any department would be bound to issue an annual report regarding the complaints and it would be presented in Parliament, the minister added.

According to the Bill, the person lodging fake complains would face the punishment of one year imprisonment.

Pakistan People Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)'s members however demanded to postpone the bill for further consideration.

The committee also approved the Constitution (Twenty-Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2017. The ministers of state would also be considered as part of Cabinet after this amendment, Barrister Zafrullah added.

The NA body approved The Constitution (Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2017 unanimously. According to the Bill, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would announce the schedule of local body polls after consultation of federal and provincial governments.

It would be necessary to conduct local body elections within 120 days after completion of any tenure of local governments.

The committee postponed the discussion on The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (Amendment in Article 37).

MNA Naeema Kishwer Khan the mover of the bill said this bill should be passed to stop sell of liquor on the names of minorities.

The committee sought the references of various religions about liquor drinking and Sindh High Court (SHC) verdict's regarding the ban over liquor production in next meeting.