Improving accountability: Journalists demand extension of RTI to FATA

Say they should be a part of information committees in the national and provincial assemblies.

PESHAWAR: Journalists on Friday demanded the Right to Information (RTI) Ordinance, 2013 be extended to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

They made the demand at an event organised by the Development, Environment, Legal Aid, Technical Support and Advocacy Association (DELTA) in collaboration with the National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF) under USAID.

Strategies to eradicate corruption from society and raise public awareness against it were also discussed. Journalists contended they should be allowed to attend meetings of standing and public funds committees of the provincial assembly.



They also suggested that reporters covering both national and provincial assemblies must become part of the information committee.

DELTA President Naazlee Sardar lauded the RTI bill, saying the ordinance is as good as the one enacted in Serbia, which is currently ranked number one in RTI ratings worldwide. “DELTA is reviewing the bill and will suggest improvements to legislators before it is enacted,” she added.

The overall ordinance is commendable considering information can be requested through email free of cost for up to 20 pages, said Sardar. She also briefed participants on advocacy programmes, including district level conferences, citizens’ group meetings, radio programmes and other interactive sessions being undertaken by her organisation.

DELTA is currently implementing a Strengthening Citizens Voice through Advocacy (SCVA) project in Swabi, Mardan, Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda districts.

SCVA aims to improve engagement between citizens and the government to promote good governance by giving them a voice and strengthening public accountability.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2013.