RTI law: K-P Assembly urged to pass amendments

Special Assistant to Chief Minister Mushtaq Ghani had earlier chaired meeting to discuss proposed changes to 2013 act

PESHAWAR:

The Centre for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA) has urged the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to pass amendments proposed to right to information act, stated a press release issued on Tuesday.

Earlier, on February 23, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information and Higher Education Mushtaq Ghani chaired a meeting to discuss proposed changes to the 2013 act to ensure the legislation is comprehensive and accessible to the people. He gave a nod of approval to a series of amendments.

“[We hope] these amendments will soon be tabled in the K-P Assembly,” read the statement. “The suggested amendments will make the law more effective and [help] citizens access information through public bodies.” As per the press release, CGPA Executive Director Muhammad Anwar has praised these amendments, saying they will broaden the scope of the legislation and improve implementation.



Proposed changes

According to the proposed amendments, registered organisations and the Peshawar High Court would fall into the ambit of the act and would have to provide information requested from them.

In addition, providing false information would be treated as a criminal offence and those responsible will be fined and sentenced to two years in jail.



Under the proposed changes, the government is bound to announce vacancies 120 days before the retirement of information commissioners or the chief commissioner. The relevant authorities would then have to fill the positions within 30 days.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2016.