Chief of KP-RTI not ready to relinquish charge & privileges

By: S.K. Sami

Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Commission has become thoroughly dysfunctional in all respects as the retired Chief Commissioner seeking for extension or re-appointment, had discourage the commission to move requisition to search committee as per the Act 120 days prior to his retirement. According to information the troika comprising on Chief Commissioner, a Commissioner and Secretary of the Commission intentionally dysfunction the commission. They under the supervision of the Chief Commissioner kept the important post of legal commissioner vacant for about more than two years. The Chief Commissioner has been retired on 14^th April, 2022 who in race of extension has not relinquished the charge yet while the described man utilizing all the privileges of the KP Information Commission. The official record confirms that two official cars of the commission i.e. one Honda Civic model 2020 and one Toyota GLI model 2015 along with two drivers are in use of the Chief Commissioner after retirement. A source told that on 22^nd February, 2022 a file had been moved by the commission staff to the Chief Commissioner for drafting a letter to the Secretary Information to initiate the processes to search substitute of the Chief Commissioner which had been discouraged to go on. Sajid Khan Jadoon is racing to find extension on his post which is still pending. The source also informed that the former Secretary Information Arshad Khan had harshly asked that the commission should have intimated the department for substitute and was found in denial mode to move the case of extension.

Currently the case of extension of Chief Commissioner of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Commission, Sajid Khan Jandoon is in Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Office. However the Chief Secretary office when contacted did not respond to say either the case of extension will be approved accordingly or will be rejected as the KP-RTI Act, 2013 discourages extension, reappointment or holding office after 3 years of tenure or age of 65 years. The Act states that “The Chief Information Commissioner and the Commissioners shall hold office for a term of three years from the date on which they assume office and shall not be eligible for re-appointment (6) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (5), the Chief Information Commissioner and Commissioners shall not hold office after they have attained the age of sixty-five (65) years.”

Some legal experts viewed that the Chief Minister has discretionary powers to provide extension or to re-appoint the Chief Commissioner but doing so will weaken the Act.

On the other hand the Chief Commissioner of RTI Commission is the signatory authority to release salaries, utility bills, office rent and routine expenses who not holding any post after 14^th of April while his extension or appointment of any substitute has not been decided yet. Concerns are being raised that not only the employees of the commission will be deprived of their salaries but also the utility bills and the building rent will be left unpaid.