Members of a Senate select committee unanimously adopted a bill that recognises citizens’ ‘right to know’ and the right to information about the government’s activities. During the meeting, members of the Senate committee reviewed the bill clause-by-clause and unanimously adopted all amendments and recommendations. The RTI Bill is intended to replace the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002 — the existing right to information law — at the federal level. The newly-adopted law recognises citizens’ right to know under the Constitution and to have access to information about the activities of the government. It also seeks to ensure that information on missing persons is provided in writing by the relevant institution within three days of a request for information being filed. The bill also includes provisions for the protection of whistleblowers, as any person associated with a public entity which raises a flag on corruption and misappropriations in that entity will be protected under the law, and will receive immunity from prosecution in related cases. Whistleblowers from security institutions will receive similar protection.
A three-member commission with the power to order public bodies to disclose information and provide records will be formed to hear RTI requests. The Commission will entertain requests for records from the past 20 years, as records older than 20 years will automatically pass in the public domain. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will appoint members to the commission, which is expected to comprise one member of civil society, one from the bureaucracy, and one from the judiciary.
