September 29, 2003
Islamabad: Right to know is a fundamental right because the constitutional right to freedom of expression is impossible without it. It is crucial to achieve the goals of transparency, accountability, public participation and ultimately sustainable democracy. This was said by Riaz Fatiana in a panel discussion organized by the Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) to commemorate the ‘Right to know’ day. He expressed his concerns over the failure of Federal Government to implement the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002, which was promulgated about 11 months back in October 2002. He held that bureaucracy is the major hurdle in the process of formulation of rules of business because their interests will be affected by the implementation of this Ordinance. He termed it very discouraging that the Cabinet Division is yet to formulate and notify rules of business for the implementation of the Ordinance. He stressed on the meaningfully proactive campaign by the parliamentarians, media persons and civil society organizations to promote the right to know and access to information in Pakistan.
Reflecting on the same issue, Shafqat Munir said that right to know and access to information is guaranteed by the United Nations (UN) as a human right. He mentioned articles 15 and 16 of UN which recognize that all people have the right to know and the right to be informed about policies of the state and should be involved in discussions on an international level on matters that affect their existence and their rights. Highlighting the significance of this right, Shafqat Munir said that freedom of information would ensure corporate transparency by empowering communities. He suggested that freedom of information legislation should be guided by the principle of maximum disclosure and media journalists should play a central role to break the taboo of secrecy in Pakistan.
Mr. Asim Sajjad blamed secretive colonial mindset responsible for creating undue hurdles in the way of open governance. He expressed his serious concerns over the fact that state of Pakistan continues to operate in the colonial mode and remains reluctant to grants people rights as citizens. They are still treated as subjects, and the powerful vested interests are not willing to lose control by granting people rights. In these circumstances open governance is highly improbable. This gives culture of secrecy firm roots and stop citizens to hold them accountable at any forum.
Concluding
this discussion Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, Executive Coordinator CRCP, said that freedom
of information is an extremely important reform, which empowers citizens to
monitor the performance of public departments and, thereby, contributes to
promoting efficient public service delivery and good governance. Realizing
its importance, over 40 countries around the world have enacted and implemented
freedom of information laws. He stressed that Ordinance must be amended with
the aim of promoting citizens’ access to information and records held
by the public bodies. In its present form, he said the Ordinance includes
too many exemptions and leaves much to the discretion of public officials.
It will be appropriate to declare noting on the files, Cabinet records and
intermediary recommendations or opinions as public records, so that citizens
could better monitor the performance of public bodies and government. He demanded
amendments in the Official Secrets Act 1923, so that unnecessary restrictions
on citizens’ right to know could be removed.