PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will table the whistleblower bill in the next session of the provincial assembly for approval.

This was disclosed in a meeting of the assembly’s select committee here on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak chaired the meeting.


Those filing false complaints to face fine, punishment


An official statement said the participants thoroughly discussed different dimensions of the proposed legislation and suggested certain amendments to it.

They spoke about the ways to make the law more effective and reconcile it to ground realities.

The participants discussed the possible misuse of the law by various interest groups and individuals with mala fide intension and suggested steps against the misuse of the law.

Mr. Khattak said the government was going all-out to have a mechanism of check and balance through a set of legislations in order to ensure open and transparent governance in the province.

“The whistleblower law will bring an end to corruption and corrupt practices and make all governance-related issues transparent in all spares of public dealings and will lead to responsiveness for judicious utilisation of public money,” he added.

The CM said the proposed law was one of the legislation among the set of legislations made by his government to eliminate all sorts of pilferages in public dealings and misuse of power and authority.

He said he was optimistic that the proposed legislation would eliminate commission and other corrupt practices in the public sector institutions and thus, leading to institutional strengthening instead of individual as seen in the past.

The participants agreed on certain measures for the protection of whistleblowers against victimisation and disadvantageous position.

They said if the complaint was filed on mala fide intention, the complainant would be fined and given three years rigorous imprisonment.

The participants said the victim would be allowed to claim compensation if the complaint was found to be based on mala fide intention.

AFGHANS’ TREATMENT: CM Pervez Khattak on Tuesday said the federal government should evolve a mechanism to facilitate cross-border movement of patients coming to Peshawar from Afghanistan for treatment.

He was speaking to reporters after attending a meeting of parliamentary leaders in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

Speaker Asad Qaisar convened the meeting to discuss the issues of Afghan refugees, especially their complaints about ill-treatment and harassment by personnel of law-enforcement agencies.

The CM said a large number of people from Afghanistan came to Peshawar for treatment and education as they didn’t have such proper facilities in own country.

He suggested that the federal government make a policy for Afghan patients and students to facilitate their cross-border movement.

He said the federal government had set the November 15 deadline for the return of unregistered Afghans, while registered refugees could stay in the country until Dec 2016. “They (refugees) will not be disturbed until these deadlines end and that they will be treated as our guests,” he said.

Mr. Khattak said the provincial government would follow the guidelines of the federal government about Afghan nationals in future.

“If an unregistered Afghan is apprehended in any operation during this period, the police will not register FIR against him or her,” he said.

Regarding properties of the departing refugees, the CM said the relevant quarters were receiving complaints regarding disputes over immovable properties of Afghans. He said the government would soon come up with an effective strategy on the issue.

Mr. Khattak said a committee headed by former ambassador to Afghanistan Rustam Shah Mohmand would be constituted to give recommendations on the issues of refugees.

He said his government would ensure the approval of the recommendations by the assembly before forwarding them to the federal government.

The CM said the provincial government had never tried to pressure Afghan refugees into leaving the province for home.

He said the new border management policy, increase in cash assistance to returning Afghans and plea of the Afghan ambassador in Pakistan for his countrymen to end refuge in Pakistan were the main reasons for higher repatriation of refugees.

Senior minister Inayatullah Khan suggested integration of refugees saying of 1.5 million refugees, 74 per cent were born and grown up in Pakistan.

ANP leader in the provincial assembly Sardar Hussain Babak demanded the immediate end to the harassment of refugees and extension in their repatriation deadline.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
Updated 19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...