Citizens have the ‘right to know’ why the PM took an exclusive aircraft for minor medical check-ups
KARACHI: Citizens have the ‘right to know’ why hundreds of Pakistani children die because of malnutrition, the absence of medical facilities and bites by rodents, while the prime minister takes an exclusive aircraft to fly to foreign countries for minor medical check-ups.
In order to understand this dichotomy, the following information and records were requested under the FOI Ordinance 2002 and Article 19A of the Constitution, from prime minister Nawaz Sharif on April 21: 1) The names of all persons (including family, staff, and crew), who accompanied Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif during his visit to the UK between April 13 April 19. 2) If the expenses of this visit were paid from the government funds, the specification of exact law that entitles the prime minister to have his medical check-up done in a foreign country at the state’s expense. 3) The provision of copies of the medical expenses incurred as a result of doctors’ bills, tests and medical procedures. 4) Provision of expenses relating to aircraft, fuel, landing, parking and handling charges at various airports.
5) Provision of copies of boarding, lodging and travel expenses of the staff and crew that accompanied the prime minister during this seven-day visit. Kindly ensure that the requested information and records, signed and certified, are provided at the earliest but no later than the 21 days specified in the law.
The Pakistani public still awaits answers.
Naeem Sadiq
Published in The Express Tribune, April 24th, 2016.
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