Federal
Minister For Law & Justice Mr. Zahid Hamid said that the
policy of this Government, is “zero
tolerance” for corruption, this is clearly stated in the Chapter on
“Corruption and Accountability” in the PML(N) Manifesto 2013. He was addressing
as a chief guest at the launching ceremony of the Country Review Report in
compliance with the implementation Review Mechanism of the United Nations
Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) organized by National
Accountability Bureau (NAB) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
(UNODC) Country Office Pakistan.
While
addressing Federal Minister For Law & Justice Mr. Zahid Hamid said that
Pakistan is one of 182 State Parties which have ratified the UNCAC. In accordance
with the Mechanism for Review of Implementation of the Convention, the
mandatory peer Country Review has been conducted by experts from Norway and the
Solomon Islands. During the Review process, Ministry of Law and Justice, NAB
and nine other stakeholders were also actively involved in the process.
He said that the Report highlights the progress made by the Government and NAB
to counter corruption and presents a set of recommendations and priorities to
enhance the institutional and operational framework and the capacity of the
relevant institutions in Pakistan.
Federal
Minister for Law and Justice said that the Government of Pakistan has carefully
noted the contents of the Review Report, particularly the challenges in
implementation that have been identified in it. Pakistan is fully
committed to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
Zahid
Hamid further said that on the directions of former Prime Minister
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the Government has initiated a number of measures to implement
the Party Manifesto. The “Public Interest Disclosure” (or Whistle-blower
Protection) Bill and “Right of Access to Information” Bill have been introduced
in Parliament. Transparency in Government has increased dramatically.
Procurement laws and rules are being amended to streamline procedures. More
importantly, the Government has presented an initial draft of a new National
Accountability Commission Bill before the Parliamentary Committee constituted
by Speaker, National Assembly in consultation with the Chairman Senate to
review the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999. Law Minister mentioned that
the Law Ministry will make every effort to ensure that the new law provides for
even-handed and non-discriminatory accountability and we will also endeavor to
ensure that the fundamental principles of fair trial and due process are
observed. But the real challenge will be in proper implementation. The entire
accountability process must not only be highly credible, completely transparent
and manifestly fair, it must be implemented without fear or favor and
recognized as such by common people.
He
emphasized that the fight against corruption cannot be won by simply passing
laws, no matter how strict. It requires concerted efforts of the whole society--every
segment of society must unite against this evil. All of us must stand
together to eradicate this cancer from our body fabric.
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