Sind Information Commission formed

After much back and forth, the long-awaited Sindh Information Commission has finally been incepted on a formal note, for the purpose of performing a simple yet equally demanding task: The commission’s duty will be to ensure transparency in public affairs, in addition to utilisation of funds through providing access to information on official record in an administrative system where such documents are often kept hidden or destroyed to cover malpractices and corruption within government departments.

“Indeed it is difficult task as bureaucracy is not in habit of such practices,” said the newly formed commission’s chief commissioner Nusrat Hussain, who along with senior journalist Shahid Abbas Jatoi and advocate Saima Agha will form the three-member Sindh Information Commission.

Chief Commissioner Nusrat Mangan himself possesses a vast experience as a bureaucrat in the province. He has formerly served in the prisons department and was retired from the service in capacity of the Inspector General, Prisons, in 2020.

Per him, when a bureaucrat or department hides information it create unnecessary doubts among people. “Therefore, the government authorities should make public all the information required under the law for keeping their affairs transparent,” he added.

Hussain was also of the opinion that every department should routinely display their decision and other affairs through their websites. A practice, which he believes has remained largely absent in most public offices.

“The provincial departments have already activated their websites and they are bound to display their activities regularly,” he maintained.

The chief commissioner however acknowledged that the commission’s own website is yet to be updated, adding that they will begin the accountability process by bringing their own website to pace with the policy.

According to him, provincial government officers should display information about their departments on the websites regularly; including expenditure made on different accounts. “For example, the Prisons Department should have data about strength of prisoners present in different prisons of the province besides facilities being provided to them on its official website,” the chief commissioner explained.

Per the Sindh Transparency and Access to Information Law, the government bodies will also make public details of their administrative and developmental decisions, qualifications of officers and remuneration, perks and privileges provided to them; in addition to budget allocations and actual expenditures.

The officers, however, will not disclose information that may risk Pakistan’s sovereignty or national integrity; including sensitive information pertaining national defence, security, public order and international relations of the country. Any information that is not related to public sector, affects legitimate, intellectual property rights, causes harm to life, health or safety or property of any person, hampers investigation of a case or affects fundamental rights of a citizen, will also not be made public.

According to bureaucrat-turned lawyer Dr Murtaza Khuhro, no formal application should be needed for obtaining such general information. Speaking on the commission’s policies, he said that formal application should only be needed for seeking particular information. “For example, allocation and distribution of funds by Finance Department and utilisation of these funds by respective departments should be available at official websites as a routine matter. Information about a particular project should only need a formal application,” he told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2022.