Punjab RTI Law

CPDI Success Story

Background:

From political advocacy for right to information legislation to building capacity of civil society
organizations, journalists, youth groups and concerned citizens on using existing right to
information laws, CPDI has spearheaded right to information movement in the country. CPDI
advocacy initiatives have significantly contributed to the content of the Punjab Transparency and
Right to Information Act 2013. That is why the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information
Act 2013 is mirror reflection of CPDI comments on subsequent drafts shared by Punjab
government in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

Advocacy initiatives included presentations to Punjab politicians and officials, conducting and
sharing analysis of different drafts of RTI law with elected representatives and public officials
through letters, issuing press releases, writing press briefs for senior journalists and contributing
Op-Ed pieces in leading dailies, letter campaigns launched by District Right to Information
Networks facilitated by CPDI and holding rallies demanding the enactment of RTI laws.

Objective:

This document can serve as a guide for CPDI and other civil society groups to carry out effective
advocacy initiatives for enactment of RTI laws in Sindh, Balochistan and at federal level.

Identification of Focal Persons for Advocacy Initiatives:

Prior to launching advocacy initiatives to raise demand for the enactment of right to information
law, it is important to identify key players that could play pivotal role in the enactment of the
law. CPDI identified leadership of PML-N, senior public officials and journalists keenly
interested in right to information and transparency issues as focal points of its advocacy efforts
for enactment of RTI law in Punjab.

Establishing Contact with Punjab Government:

In 2008, CPDI started engaging Punjab government

on the need for RTI law for the province. In 2009, as
a consequence of this sustained letter campaign,
Punjab government invited CPDI to give presentation
on RTI law. CPDI founding director Mukhtar Ahmed
Ali explained principles of freedom of information
legislation and best practices pertaining to an

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effective RTI law to senior public officials of Punjab.

Going beyond Raising the Demand:

Constructive engagement with Punjab government has been the hallmark of CPDI advocacy for
Punjab RTI law. In 2010, Punjab government shared its draft Punjab Freedom of Information
Act 2010 for comments. CPDI took the position that it was a weak law and needed to be
improved. CPDI did not only take this position but went a step further and provided detailed
comments on the key provisions of the draft Punjab RTI law. As a result of this advocacy
campaign, Punjab government shared another draft in 2012 titled Punjab Freedom of Information
Act 2012. This version incorporated most of the suggestions put forward by CPDI; however, it
fell short of CPDI expectations. Again, CPDI conducted in-depth analysis of this draft and
shared its findings with elected representatives, public officials and media. Similarly, CPDI also
provided feedback on draft Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013 to Punjab
government.

Analysis Based Op-Ed Articles on Punjab RTI Drafts:

Over the years, CPDI has used Op-Ed articles as an advocacy tool to raise demand for effective
legislation on right to information. CPDI Op-Ed articles specifically based on the analyses of
different drafts shared by Punjab government were: The right to information, Dawn, July 09,
2011, Anatomy of Punjab Information Law and ‘The News’ on April 15, 2012, Right
information, ‘The News International’. Furthermore, CPDI also addressed some of the
misconceptions about right to information laws when Punjab Transparency and Right to
Information Ordinance 2013 was promulgated on October 04, 2013 by contributing a piece titled
Misconceptions about Right to Information Laws, ‘The News International, October 13, 2013.

Engagement with Media:

Apart from contributing Op-Ed pieces in different newspapers, CPDI continued demanding for
enactment of Punjab RTI law by issuing press releases and sharing media briefs with journalists.
As a result of these press releases and media briefs to journalists, stories like Even PTI, PML-N
not serious on Information Rights Bill, Freedom of information Activists seek changes to draft
law, New information bill hides more information than it reveals, Shahbaz promises right to
information law as first priority kept appearing in national media in regular intervals. As a
consequence, CPDI was able to keep alive debate in the national media on right to information
and was able to sustain pressure on the provincial government for the enactment of right to
information law.

Protest Rallies:

At the same time, CPDI exerted pressure on Punjab government for the enactment of RTI law by
holding protest rallies. CPDI held a rally in front of Lahore Press Club on June 22, 2013

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demanding the early enactment of RTI law for the province. Similarly, another rally was held in
Lahore in front of Lahore Press Club on September 20, 2013. A large number of civil society
activists participated in these rallies. The participants chanted slogans and demanded the
government to enact law at the earliest.

Acknowledgement of CPDI Contribution to Punjab RTI Law:

CPDI contribution to the enactment of Punjab RTI law has been widely acknowledged. Among
others, CPDI contribution has been acknowledged in following two ways. Representation in the
Committee to Finalise Punjab RTI Law:

In May, 2014, Chief Minister of Punjab, Mian Shahbaz Sharif established a five member
committee to finalise the draft of Punjab RTI law. The fact that CPDI founding director Mukhtar
Ahmed Ali was included in this committee demonstrates the level of trust reposed in CPDI as a
research based advocacy organization working in the area of transparency and right to
information. As a member of this committee, Mukhtar Ahmed Ali, among other things, was able
to convince fellow members about the need for an independent and autonomous appellate body
in the shape of Punjab Information Commission instead of Punjab Ombudsman.

Appointment of CPDI Founding Director as Punjab Information Commissioner:

In March, 2014, Punjab government notified Chief Information Commissioner and two
Information Commissioners to serve in Punjab Information Commission. Mukhtar Ahmed Ali
was appointed as Information Commissioner. Nothing can be more satisfying than the
appointment of its founding director as Information Commissioner for a civil society
organization working for the enactment and implementation of right to information laws in the
country to protect and promote citizens’ right to information held by public bodies.