ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) is dysfunctional since November 17, 2022, as the first batch of information commissioners have completed four years term. It is stated by Mr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, Executive Director, Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) in his letters penned to Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, Federal Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, and Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
PIC is an independent body to ensure the implementation of the Act. The prime responsibility of the PIC is to receive and decide on appeals under section 17 of the Act. However, the commission has power to summon the officers of the federal government to enforce the Act.
Mr. Mukhtar Ahmad demanded the process for the appointment of a new Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners be initiated and completed without any further delay in order to meet the mandatory legal requirement under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017; and the appointment of a new Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners is made on the basis of merit, while keeping in view the integrity and commitment of nominees for the cause of peoples’ fundamental right to information and its effective implementation, preferably in consultation with the civil society organizations, which have been spearheading the cause of peoples’ right to information, he further added.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Government of PML (N) that had enacted the Right of Access to Information Act 2017 which, despite its certain flaws, has made considerable positive impact in promoting transparency in governance. Mr. Ali stated that while PML (N) has rightly claimed credit in its manifesto for the enactment of the Act but implementation remained challenging. He also stated that the PLM (N) promise in the manifesto 2018-23 to ensure political, fair and transparent accountability.
He urged the government to ensure implementation of the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017 and will make Pakistan Information Commission functional by appointing persons of integrity and relevant experience without further delay. -PR