The News International: PK: Thursday, May 11, 2017.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
(KP) Provincial Assembly has released the details of MPAs who availed
themselves of medical facilities from the public exchequer; however the same
information sought under the Freedom of Information Act 2002 is still awaited
from National Assembly and Senate despite passage of almost a month.
This scribe
sent an information request to the National Assembly, the Senate and all the
four provincial assemblies on April 18, 2017. The information request was sent
to all the assemblies on the same date. However Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while once
again leading from the front in providing certified information under the Right
to Information Act 2013 has released the required information on May 10, 2017.
On April 18,
this scribe sent an information request to the National Assembly and Senate
Secretariat for the provision of certified information about total number and
names of the MNAs and Senators who availed themselves of health facilities on
public money during last two tenures i.e. from 2008-13 and 2013 till todate.
Similarly
this scribe also requested for certified Information about total amount
sanctioned to each of the MNA and Senators who availed themselves of health
facility from abroad (name of the MNA, total amount sanctioned to him, from
which country he received health treatment).
The same
information request was also sent to all the four provincial assemblies but
only Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly responded to this query whereas
remaining assemblies chose not to answer. This scribe has registered a
complaint on the relevant forums against the authorities concerned and
requested to ensure the provision of required information. Though, the
performance of Information Commission of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is not exemplary
but the same is the case with other information commissions as well.
On August 16,
2016, this reporter sent an information request to the Pakistan State Life
Insurance Corporation (PSLIC) for providing him with certified information
about the number of unclaimed benefits cases.
However,
despite passage of almost two months the PSLIC management gave no response
after which the matter was brought to the Federal Ombudsman. Despite repeated
attempts through phone calls and official correspondence, no official appeared
before the Federal Ombudsman.
The ombudsman
then issued its verdict for providing this correspondent with the required
information and take action against the authorities concerned. However, even
after long time, the verdict is yet to be implemented.
Another RTI
request was sent to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on September 30,
2016 for providing detailed information about its project of installing
ferris-wheel. However, despite passage of almost four months no response came
from the CDA.
This
correspondent filed another RTI request to Ministry of Defence on October 14,
2016 for providing information about the total amount spent on the pension of
retired security forces personnel in last three years and the details of perks
and privileges given to them. The Defence Ministry refused to provide the
information and termed it a matter of national security.
On October
14, 2016 this correspondent also filed an RTI request with the Establishment
Division and the provincial government for providing him with information about
the total number of MP scale appointees in public sector enterprises during
last three years and the perks and privileges given to them. However, despite
passage of almost four months no response came from any provincial government
or Establishment Division.
The State
Bank of Pakistan was sent an RTI request by this scribe on October 13, 2016 for
providing certified information about the total money sent abroad from Pakistan
in last three years. However, after almost two months the SBP refused to answer
the query terming it against its policy.
This reporter
also sent an RTI request to all the High Courts for providing him with
information about the total number of pending cases, related to Anti-Terrorism
Act and pending appeals against the death penalties. Only the Lahore High Court
replied that their annual report till 2014 had been uploaded on the LHC
website.
Another RTI
request was sent to Ministry of Defence for proving information about the total
number of projects being carried out by its entities like FWO, Fauji
Fertilizer, NLC etc, their total annual income and the tax paid by them in last
three years. But the ministry refused to provide information seeking refuge
under Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002.
This scribe
sent another RTI request to all provincial home departments and Interior
Ministry for providing information about the total number of people whose name
is in the fourth schedule and their affiliation with any political or religious
party. However, no response came from any government department yet.
The Higher
Education Commission is the only institution which has provided information
about the Prime Minister’s Laptop scheme as well as the details about
scholarships awarded to students in the last five years.