One of the greatest checks on excessive government power is the right of all citizens to get information about what their representatives are up to. The general principle which should be followed, but rarely is, when it comes to freedom of information laws is that all information should be available to the public except for […]
A SPEAKER at a workshop was recently quoted as calling the right to information the mother of all rights. Pakistanis have taken their time to realise this basic principle and now when they are making an effort to access information as a right, there are fears they might end up with less than what they […]
There is indeed no doubt about the fact that the freedom of press and freedom of information is the key to a healthy society as well as a healthy democracy A First Information Report (FIR) is a written document prepared by police organisations in Pakistan when they receive information about the commission of a cognizable […]
The fresh wave of violence against media and journalists reached Lahore, the capital city of Punjab province where the activists of a political party thrashed journalists with clubs and iron rods injuring many reporters and cameramen at around 5 pm on August 26, 2013. Protest was held by political party activists against alleged rigging in […]
In a YouTube-less Pakistan, where children and young women are punished for their freedom of expression while radical, militant societal elements are given prime time coverage A parent is told at a parent–teacher meeting that her daughter has been careless lately. When asked to describe and draw an eggplant in science class, she left the […]
The Right to Information (RTI) Ordinance is the first major accomplishment of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led coalition government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). The only such law in the country, the RTI paves the way for a more transparent and vibrant democracy where citizens have access to all government documents and can monitor the expenditure of their […]
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Ordinance 2013, promulgated by the provincial PTI government, is a complex piece of legislation which will require time to properly analyse and digest. And, as with all such laws, good intentions will not be enough and will have to be followed by effective implementation. These caveats aside, the law […]
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will unveil the right to information ordinance on Aug 18 (Sunday) during a special function to be attended by provincial Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan.The ordinance will come into force with immediate effect, say the relevant officials. The officials told Dawn on Thursday that Khyber […]
‘FREEDOM of information is a fundamental human right, the touchstone of all the freedoms to which the UN is consecrated.’ (Resolution 59(1) of the UNGA). The main theme behind the concept of freedom of information is that public institutions have an obligation to disclose information and every member of the public has a corresponding right […]
FREEDOM of information is a fundamental human right, the touchstone of all the freedoms to which the UN is consecrated. (Resolution 59 (1) of the UNGA) The main theme behind the concept of freedom of information is that public institutions have an obligation to disclose information and every member of the public has a corresponding […]
RECENTLY, I attended a workshop organised by Shehri, a Karachi-based NGO. The workshop was about the ‘Right to Information and Freedom of Information’ . We were informed that a common citizen is empowered to access all information held by the government (except for the sensitive one) through Article 19A of the Constitution of Pakistan. The […]
ISLAMABAD: The Governor Punjab did not promulgate the proposed Punjab Freedom of Information Ordinance 2013 though caretaker CM Najam Sethi wanted him to do it. The governor has left it for the new elected government to consider. The entire work on Punjab Freedom of Information Bill 2013 was done by Mian Shahbaz Sharif’s government and […]
By: Umar Cheema ISLAMABAD: Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif has promised that the first legislation to be passed by the next Punjab Assembly will be the Right to Information law if the PML-N came into power, rekindling a hope for the media and civil society organizations struggling for this legislation. “Mark my words. This […]
LAHORE: Najam Sethi has lauded the Freedom of Information Act approved by the Punjab Cabinet, saying that the move shows good intention of the provincial government. In Geo News programme, ‘Aapas Ki Baat’, he said that the new Act would ensure a lot of freedom to get information and transparency to such a level that […]
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