RIGHT TO INFORMATION

PRESENTED BY: ADEEL AHMED

AYESHA MALIK
FAZAL RAHEEM
WHAT ARE RIGHTS?
RIGHTS ARE FUNDAMENTAL NORMATIVE RULES
RULES ABOUT WHAT IS ALLOWED
OR WHAT IS OWED TO PEOPLE

RIGHTS ARE NOT ABSOLUTE !

DOES EVERY CITIZEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO
KNOW ?

The Answer: Article 19A in Constitution of Pakistan

WHAT IS RTI?
CHRONOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
• 1990: FIRST ATTEMPT WAS MADE BY PROFESSOR KHURSHID AHMAD, SENATOR JI.
• 1994: SENATOR MALIK QASIM, MADE THE SECOND ATTEMPT IN 1994.
• 1997: FIRST FOI LEGISLATION, AN ORDINANCE IS ENACTED BY MALIK MAIRAJ
KHALID.
• 2000: FEDERAL MINISTER JAVED JABBAR MADE PUBLIC A DRAFT FOI BILL. • 2002:
GEN. PERVEZ MUSHARRAF PROMULGATES THE FOI ORDINANCE.
• 2004: FEDERAL FOI RULES & REGULATIONS, 2004.
• 2005: BALOCHISTAN FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, 2005.
• 2006: SINDH FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, 2006. (22-12-2006)
• 2007: BALOCHISTAN FOI RULES & REGULATIONS, 2007.
• 2008: SHERRY REHMAN’S RTI BILL. 
• 2010: ARTICLE-19A IS INSERTED IN THE CONSTITUTION, THROUGH THE 18 TH
AMENDMENT AND RIGHT TO INFORMATION IS ACKNOWLEGED AS THE
FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
• 2013: KP RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2013 AND PUNJAB TRANSPARENCY
AND RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT,2013
• 2013: SAHIBZADA MUHAMMAD KHALID APPOINTED AS THE KP CIC
• 2014: J: MAZHAR MINHAS AS PUNJAB CIC, AHMED RAZA & MUKHTAR AHMED
AS IC.
• 2015: PUNJAB TRANSPARENCY & RIGHT TO INFORMATION RULES, 2014.
• 2015: KP RIGHT TO INFORMATION AMENDMENT BILL, 2015.
• 2017: RIGHT OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION BILL PASSED BY THE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
LEGISLATIONS IN PAKISTAN
• THE FEDERAL FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ORDINANCE, 2002
• FEDERAL FREEDOM OF INFORMATION RULES, 2004
• BALOCHISTAN FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, 2005
• BALOCHISTAN FREEDOM OF INFORMATION RULES, 2007
• SINDH FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, 2006
• ARTICLE 19A OF THE CONSTITUTION OF PAKISTAN (2010)
• KP RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2013
• THE PUNJAB TRANSPARENCY AND RTI ACT, 2013.
• THE PUNJAB TRANSPARENCY AND RTI RULES, 2014.
• SINDH LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 2013 
THE WHO WHOM WHAT AND
HOW OF RTI
 WHO
CITIZEN OF PAKISTAN
 WHOM
YOU CAN ASK FOR INFORMATION FROM ANY
PUBLIC BODY.
A PUBLIC BODY IS

(i) ANY MINISTRY, DIVISION OR DEPARTMENT OF THE FEDERAL

OR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.
(ii) ANY FEDERAL OR PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE.
(iii) ANY OFFICE OF ANY BOARD, COMMISSION, COUNCIL,
MUNICIPAL OR LOCAL AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED BY OR
UNDER A FEDERAL OR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.
(iv) ANY FEDERAL OR PROVINCIAL COURT OR TRIBUNAL. 
 WHAT
YOU CAN ASK FOR ANY INFORMATION EXCEPT FOR
THE CATEGORY DEFINED AS ‘EXEMPT FROM
DISCLOSURE’
 PUBLIC RECORDS
(a) POLICIES AND GUIDELINES;
(b) TRANSACTIONS OF A PUBLIC BODY;
(c) GRANT OF LICENCES, ALLOTMENT, BENEFIT, PRIVILEGES, CONTRACTS AND
AGREEMENTS BY A PUBLIC BODY;
(d) FINAL ORDERS AND DECISIONS RELATING TO MEMBERS OF PUBLIC; AND
(e) ANY RECORD NOTIFIED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS PUBLIC RECORD. 
SOME QUESTIONS THAT CAN BE ASKED UNDER
RTI
• WHAT IS THE BUDGET OF A DEPARTMENT AND HOW AND WHERE IS IT BEING
SPENT ?
• HOW MANY GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS / HOSPITALS, ETC. ARE CLOSED AND
WHY?
• WHO ALL RECEIVED GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS, FOR WHAT AMOUNT AND
ON WHAT GROUNDS?
• PERKS, TRAVEL, CARS, HOUSE RENTS, FOREIGN VISITS, OFFICE,
ENTERTAINMENT, ADVERTISEMENTS, ETC ?
• WHAT IS THE CRIME RATE FOR EACH POLICE STATION, CASES PENDING IN
COURTS, CASES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ETC. 
 ‘EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE’
•  NOTING ON THE FILES, MINUTES OF MEETINGS.
• RECORDS OF BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS RELATING TO THE
ACCOUNTS OF THEIR CUSTOMERS.
• PERSONAL PRIVACY OF ANY INDIVIDUAL.
• RECORD RELATING TO DEFENCE FORCES, DEFENCE INSTALLATIONS OR
CONNECTED OR ANCILLARY TO DEFENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY.
• MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE INTERESTS OF PAKISTAN IN THE
CONDUCT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
• MAY CAUSE HARM TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF LAW.
• MAY REVEAL THE IDENTITY OF A CONFIDENTIAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION.
• MAY FACILITATE AN ESCAPE FROM LEGAL CUSTODY.
• MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FINANCIAL OR COMMERCIAL
INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC BODY BY GIVING UNREASONABLE
ADVANTAGE TO ANY PERSON IN RELATION TO A CONTRACT.
• ANY RECORD WHICH THE GOVERNMENT MAY DECLARE AS
EXEMPT.
• ANY RECORD THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAY DECLARE AS
CLASSIFIED UNDER THE OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT, 1923.
•
HOW?
ANY CITIZEN CAN SEEK ANY INFORMATION OR RECORD FROM
ANY PUBLIC BODY (EXCEPT FOR INFORMATION CATEGORIZED
BY LAW AS ‘EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE’).
•  EVERY PUBLIC BODY WILL DESIGNATE AN OFFICIAL CALLED
“PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER” OR THE PERSON IN CHARGE
TO PROVIDE TRUE AND EASY PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION
OR RECORDS.
• THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER SHALL EITHER PROVIDE
THE ATTESTED INFORMATION / RECORD WITHIN 14 DAYS OF THE
RECEIPT OF REQUEST, OR IF THE INFORMATION CANNOT BE
PROVIDED FOR ANY REASON, THE PUBLIC INFORMATION
OFFICER SHALL RECORD HIS/HER DECISION IN WRITING AND
THE APPLICANT SHALL BE INFORMED WITHIN 14 DAYS .
 APPEAL PROCESS
• FIRST APPELLATE BODY: IN CASE THE REQUISITE INFORMATION IS NOT PROVIDED BY
THE DESIGNATED OFFICIAL WITHIN 14 DAYS, THE APPLICANT MAY FILE A COMPLAINT
WITH THE HEAD OF THAT PUBLIC BODY WHO SHALL DISPOSE OF THE COMPLAINT
WITHIN 30 DAYS OF ITS RECEIPT.
• SECOND APPELLATE BODY: IF THE HEAD OF THE PUBLIC BODY ALSO FAILS TO DECIDE
ON THE APPEAL WITHIN 30 DAYS, THE COMPLAINANT CAN FILE AN APPEAL WITH THE
FEDERAL / PROVINCIAL / TAX OR BANKING OMBUDSMAN (MOHTASIB) AS THE CASE MAY
BE. THE OMBUDSMAN HAS 60 DAYS TO DECIDE ON THE COMPLIANT.
• THIRD APPELLATE BODY: IF THE OMBUDSMAN REJECTS THE COMPLAINT, THE
APPLICANT CAN APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN (FEDERAL MATTERS) OR TO
THE GOVERNOR (PROVINCIAL MATTERS). THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT FOR THE PRESIDENT /
GOVERNOR TO DECIDE THE CASE.
HOW TO FILE AN RTI?
• SEND YOUR APPLICATION TO DESIGNATED PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC BODY. IF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC BODY HAS NOT
DESIGNATED PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, SEND YOUR INFORMATION
REQUEST TO THE HEAD OF THE PUBLIC BODY.
• SEND YOUR INFORMATION REQUEST THROUGH REGISTERED POST.
• KEEP COPY OF YOUR REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND THE RECEIPT OF THE
REGISTERED POST FOR YOUR RECORD AND FUTURE REFERENCE.
• REQUESTED INFORMATION SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO YOU WITHIN 10
WORKING DAYS.
• IF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC BODY FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO COLLECT THE
INFORMATION, IT MAY TAKE EXTRA 10 WORKING DAYS.
• IF THE REQUESTED INFORMATION PERTAINS TO PROTECTING LIFE AND
LIBERTY OF AN INDIVIDUAL, IT SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITHIN THREE
WORKING DAYS.
 WHAT TO DO IF INFORMATION IS NOT
RECEIVED?
• LODGE AN APPEAL WITH THE PAKISTAN INFORMATION
COMMISSION ON A PLAIN PAPER
• (ATTACH COPY OF YOUR APPLICATION, COPY OF THE LETTER
FROM PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, (IF ANY), AND THE
RECEIPT OF THE REGISTERED POST WITH YOUR COMPLAINT)
• THE PAKISTAN INFORMATION COMMISSION WILL DECIDE ON
YOUR COMPLAINT WITHIN 60 DAYS.
ADDRESS OF PAKISTAN INFORMATION
COMMISSION

CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER 

PAKISTAN INFORMATION COMMISSION
1ST FLOOR, NATIONAL ARCADE, A4 PLAZA, NEAR PSO
F-8 MARKAZ, ISLAMABAD
PHONE: 051-9261013, 051-9261014