The Nation: Peshawar: Tuesday, 6Th May 2025.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Right to Information (RTI) Commission has issued a five-day deadline to Deputy
Commissioner (DC) Tank, Tanvir Khattak, directing him to provide a long-pending
inquiry report or face a summons next week.
The directive comes in response to an application filed by Yasin Shah, who requested a copy of an inquiry report prepared by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Finance & Planning) Muhammad Yousaf regarding allegations against a Qanoongo. The inquiry was reportedly ordered by the Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR).
Despite three official communications from the RTI Commission, DC Tanvir Khattak has failed to provide the requested information.
Sources within the Commission said the delay appears to be a deliberate attempt to shield a subordinate accused of misconduct.
An RTI Commission official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that if the information is not submitted within the stipulated time, DC Khattak will be summoned for a hearing next week. “This is a violation of the RTI Act, and we take it seriously,” the official added.
The case has raised concerns among transparency advocates, who argue that withholding such information undermines public trust and weakens accountability in government institutions.
The applicant now awaits whether DC Khattak will comply with the order or face legal consequences in the coming days.
In one of his responses to the RTI Commission, DC Tanvir Khattak stated: “Since the formal inquiry is under process, the said report is with the Inquiry Officer, ADC (G) Allah Noor Sherani, and the complete report will be shared with the applicant, including the report of the formal inquiry.”
He assured that both reports would be shared once the second inquiry is completed. However, the RTI Commission views this as an unjustified delay.
A reliable source in the DC Office disclosed that the ADC (G) handed over his inquiry report to the DC ten days ago, but the DC has not permitted any staff to provide the information to the applicant.
The directive comes in response to an application filed by Yasin Shah, who requested a copy of an inquiry report prepared by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Finance & Planning) Muhammad Yousaf regarding allegations against a Qanoongo. The inquiry was reportedly ordered by the Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR).
Despite three official communications from the RTI Commission, DC Tanvir Khattak has failed to provide the requested information.
Sources within the Commission said the delay appears to be a deliberate attempt to shield a subordinate accused of misconduct.
An RTI Commission official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that if the information is not submitted within the stipulated time, DC Khattak will be summoned for a hearing next week. “This is a violation of the RTI Act, and we take it seriously,” the official added.
The case has raised concerns among transparency advocates, who argue that withholding such information undermines public trust and weakens accountability in government institutions.
The applicant now awaits whether DC Khattak will comply with the order or face legal consequences in the coming days.
In one of his responses to the RTI Commission, DC Tanvir Khattak stated: “Since the formal inquiry is under process, the said report is with the Inquiry Officer, ADC (G) Allah Noor Sherani, and the complete report will be shared with the applicant, including the report of the formal inquiry.”
He assured that both reports would be shared once the second inquiry is completed. However, the RTI Commission views this as an unjustified delay.
A reliable source in the DC Office disclosed that the ADC (G) handed over his inquiry report to the DC ten days ago, but the DC has not permitted any staff to provide the information to the applicant.
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