Towards transparency
The RTI law, considered to be one of most ‘progressive’ in recent history, has been widely praised, and rightly so.
The RTI law, considered to be one of most ‘progressive’ in recent history, has been widely praised, and rightly so. PHOTO: CREATIVE COMMONS
Khyber-Pakhtukhwa (K-P) has become the first province to implement the Right to Information (RTI) Law after the Governor of Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa signed the bill passed by the provincial assembly. The law, which is considered to be one of most ‘progressive’ in recent legislative history, has been widely praised, and rightly so.
The recent urge for the implementation of freedom of information is part of the growing trend globally. The RTI, however, has a history in Pakistan. Efforts to make the rules of business of the government more transparent and accountable can be traced back to the early 1990s. In 2002, the Freedom of Information Ordinance was also introduced but failed to deliver. While the government also appointed a senior bureaucrat as the Chief Information Commissioner — previously a member of the public service commission — as per criteria , a search committee will now appoint two new commissioners within 120 days to complete the formation of the K-P Information Commission. The Information Commission will not only be responsible for making the information available within the due time but is also authorised to make recommendations to reform government and public bodies and make formal comments on legislative/legal proposals affecting the right to information.
While the K-P government can consider this as an achievement, the actual test begins now. If accountability and transparency is the purpose, what is required is a massive awareness movement on how the common man can benefit from this law. Above all, the ‘Focal Persons’ from every department who are appointed to communicate the information need to be well trained. The usefulness of such a law will depend much on how public bodies manage their records and how seriously the commission’s recommendation will be taken under the powers allotted to it. The successful implementation of the law will be a point scored by the PTI and its coalition partners. While the ‘ideal’ of democracy might not be completely achieved as yet, the government should now focus on implementing what has been achieved more consistently.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2013.
The recent urge for the implementation of freedom of information is part of the growing trend globally. The RTI, however, has a history in Pakistan. Efforts to make the rules of business of the government more transparent and accountable can be traced back to the early 1990s. In 2002, the Freedom of Information Ordinance was also introduced but failed to deliver. While the government also appointed a senior bureaucrat as the Chief Information Commissioner — previously a member of the public service commission — as per criteria , a search committee will now appoint two new commissioners within 120 days to complete the formation of the K-P Information Commission. The Information Commission will not only be responsible for making the information available within the due time but is also authorised to make recommendations to reform government and public bodies and make formal comments on legislative/legal proposals affecting the right to information.
While the K-P government can consider this as an achievement, the actual test begins now. If accountability and transparency is the purpose, what is required is a massive awareness movement on how the common man can benefit from this law. Above all, the ‘Focal Persons’ from every department who are appointed to communicate the information need to be well trained. The usefulness of such a law will depend much on how public bodies manage their records and how seriously the commission’s recommendation will be taken under the powers allotted to it. The successful implementation of the law will be a point scored by the PTI and its coalition partners. While the ‘ideal’ of democracy might not be completely achieved as yet, the government should now focus on implementing what has been achieved more consistently.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2013.