The Express Tribune: Pakistan:
Thursday, February 16, 2017.
A Senate
panel has passed the Right to Information Bill (RTI), 2016, seeking to ensure
that relevant authorities provide written details on missing persons within
three days of a request.
The bill that
aims to replace the toothless Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002 also
includes provision for protection of whistleblowers in public sector
organisations and sharing of classified records after 25 years.
The Senate
Select Committee met on Tuesday with Senator Farhatullah Babar in the chair.
The panel discussed freedom of information acts of the UK as well as other
related laws of Bangladesh and India for comparisons.
After a
thorough debate on the RTI bill, the committee passed the amendments and
recommendations of its members. The
newly-devised law plugs all the loopholes in the existing ordinance where
withholding information will have consequences and the officer will be held
accountable.
Talking to
journalists after the meeting, Babar said after approval of the bill a
procedure will have to be followed in a case where information is withheld.
“This will
include a written explanation from the authorised officer as to why the
information should not be made public. The officer will have to explain as to
why withholding the information will impact national security. A committee will decide about national
interest,” he said.
The committee
agreed that in an effort to discourage the government from using the pretext of
national security to place unjustified restrictions on the right to
information, any ‘corrupt practice’ or ‘human rights violations’ that involve
public institutions including those run by the security establishment will be
liable to be shared publicly.
The bill also
seeks to ensure that relevant authorities provide written details on missing
persons as well as information related to life and liberty of a person within
three days after filing of a request.
The RTI
commission will also entertain requests seeking records older than 25 years, as
all such records will by default be included in the public domain.
The bill also
seeks to protect whistleblowers in public sector organisations. Any person who
points out corruption and wrongdoing will be considered protected under the law
and will enjoy immunity from any prosecution in such cases.
The prime minister
will form a three-member information commission which will include a member of
judiciary, an official of BS-22 and a member of civil society.
The
commission will have power to impose a fine equivalent to one-day salary for a
maximum hundred days on a person who willfully acts to obstruct any activity
which is required by the act.
A standing
committee of the Senate and National Assembly will have the authority to remove
members of the commission. Action will be taken against members of the
commission for willfully destroying a record. This will include two-year jail
term or a fine.
“The law will
strengthen institutions as access to information and democracy are inseparable
and reinforce each other. The bill seeks
to ensure transparency in all the areas of government,” said Minister of State
for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb while talking to media.