Senate panel passes whistleblower protection bill

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Friday unanimously passed “The Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill, 2025” aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability within the justice system.

The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice was presided over by Senator Farooq H Naek on Friday which deliberated on key legislative matters aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability within the justice system. The Committee unanimously passed “The Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill, 2025” following a comprehensive briefing by the Ministry of Law and Justice.

The Ministry of Law and Justice informed the Committee that although a legal framework for whistleblower protection has existed since 2017, it has remained largely dormant due to lack of enforcement. The new bill introduces significant reforms, most notably the establishment of an independent whistleblower protection and vigilance commission tasked with receiving disclosures, ensuring anonymity, and protecting whistleblowers from retaliation. Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice Chairman Senator Farooq H Naek said that institutionalising whistleblower protection is vital to restoring public trust in governance and promoting a culture of accountability.

The Committee also took up The Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which proposes amendments to the provisions relating to Diyat (compensation for unintentional homicide). The proposed changes include increasing the standard amount of Diyat. An alternate clause suggests payment of either 2000 grams of gold or one-fourth of the total estate and resources of the convicted individual was also discussed.

The members of the committee voiced serious reservations about the practicality and implications of these amendments. Particular concern was raised over whether the government could lawfully make such payments on behalf of a convict. Federal Minister for Law Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar also expressed skepticism, noting that the proposed figures would place an undue financial burden on individuals and may not be feasible to implement equitably.

In light of these concerns, the Committee resolved to seek guidance from the Council of Islamic Ideology and to invite the Ministry of Interior to share its perspective on the proposed amendments at the next meeting, while the consideration of the remaining legislative items on the agenda was deferred due to the absence of the members-in-charge of those bills.

The meeting was attended by Senators Shahadat Awan and Zamir Hussain Ghumro, along with Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar.