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KPK Right to Information Act a revolutionary step towards accountability and transparency for creating economic dividends for citizens

Islamabad, PK – 30 August 2013 – Chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf Imran Khan said that the “Right to Information” (RTI) Act will make the provincial government to speak truth with its people and also help make Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a role model for other provinces.

Right to Information the only way to create transparency in the system

Transparency of information is vital to the functioning of democracy and also to improve governance, reduce corruption and to hold government more accountable to its citizens.

He was addressing to awareness workshop about Right to Information Act organized by Mishal Pakistan with the collaboration of ministry of information KPK on Friday in Islamabad. Media persons, civil society and human rights activist and ambassadors of different countries also present at this occasion.

Mr. Khan said the RTIO was the most important component of the PTI’s election manifesto and through it the government intended to ensure transparency and accountability in its affairs. He said other major items on the party’s agenda would also be implemented soon, including setting up of an independent accountability commission for which final touches were being given to a proposed law; introducing a genuine local government system aimed at empowering people at the grassroots level and bringing revolutionary changes in education and heath sectors.

CEO Mishal Pakistan Amir Jahangir said that he ordinance makes it binding upon the government to set up an independent information commission and makes obstruction in access to any record a penal offence punishable by up to two years imprisonment.

“For the first time in the country, the law provides protection to “whistleblowers”, stating that no one may be subject to any legal, administrative or employment-related sanction, regardless of any breach of a legal obligation, for releasing information on wrongdoings, or which would disclose a serious threat to health, safety or the environment, as long as they acted in good faith” He added.

Chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, Imran Khan speaking at a MISHAL Pakistan seminar on the Right to Information Law of Khyber Paktunkha

Information Secretary Azmat Haneef Orakzai explained the salient features of the ordinance, whose constitutional life was 90 days. After that it would be laid before the provincial assembly for making it an act. The ordinance envisages establishment, within 120 days, of an information commission to be headed by a retired senior government servant as chief information commissioner and three other members, including a retired judge of the high court to be appointed by its chief justice; a advocate to be appointed by the bar council; and a representative of the civil society to be appointed by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

Anyone who believes that his request seeking information has not been dealt with in accordance with the law has a right to lodge a complaint with the commission, which shall take a decision within 60 days. The commission shall have the power to order a public body to disclose information to a requester and to impose a fine of up to Rs250 per day, up to a maximum of Rs.25,000 on any official acting willfully to obstruct any activity required to be undertaken under the ordinance.

Advisor to CM KPK on economic affairs Rafaqat Ullah Babar said that this law makes it a penal offence if a person willfully obstructs access to any record with a view to preventing the exercise of a right provided for in the ordinance; obstructs the performance by a public body of a duty under this law; destroys a record without lawful authority; or interferes with the work of the information commission. Anyone committing any of these offences shall be liable to a fine of up to Rs. 5,000 or imprisonment for up to two years.

Although Sindh and Balochistan had introduced a similar law in 2006 and 2005 respectively, experts termed the KP law more progressive since it envisaged the setting up of an information commission. However, Ahmar Bilal Mehbob of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development (PILDAT) and Senior Journalist Umar Cheema, suggested that the role of the HRCP and the bar council in appointment of members of the commission should be done away with and a committee comprising members of the provincial assembly, from both the treasury and opposition benches, should select its head and other members.

Dr. Farrukh Saleem also addressed the participants and highlighted the importance of Right to Information Ordinance (RTI). “Access to information about all the matter of public importance to the people is a constitutionally obligation and RTI ordinance is big step to fulfill this obligation”

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