January 25, 2006	Wednesday	Zilhaj 24, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 24: The Ethics Retreat Committee of the Ministry of Law and Justice is redrafting a code of conduct for politicians and parliamentarians with a suggestion to penalize those violating the new code. An official announcement said here on Tuesday that Law Minister Wasi Zafar was giving final touches to a report of the committee, which Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had formed on March 29, 2005 to recommend proposals for good governance.

The ERC has also stressed on strict adherence to Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, which deals with qualification and disqualification of members of parliament.

Recommendations also include designing of periodical refresher courses for parliamentarians besides creating a ‘moral code’ for holders of public offices, violation of which would be punishable.

The ERC has proposed repealing Section 2A from the Services Tribunal Act 1973 for expeditious resolution of service matters.

In its interim report, the ERC had proposed amendments in Rules of Business, Civil Service Rules and Regulations and amendment in STA 1973 to make civil service more effective and service oriented.

For expeditiously resolving service matters changes are also suggested in STA 1973 for which it was being considered to repeal section 2A of the act.

The committee has also suggested rationalizing emoluments of civil servants. To achieve high standards of professionalism the committee is considering improving capacity building and introducing refresher courses for civil servants.

The Public Accounts Committee would be made more effective and a balance would be created between the offices of the minister and the secretary.