Pak set to have India-like RTI bill soon

The Pakistan Senate committee has reportedly approved the draft of 'Freedom of Information Law' on lines of the Indian 'Right to Information' bill, after eight-month-long debates.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had reservations regarding the draft but the President's spokesman who headed the sub-committee, Farhatullah Babar said that the Senate could not wait any longer for the ministry's reply.

The MoD had earlier asked the Senate's sub-committee on information to keep the bill pending till further orders of the defence authorities and later delayed it further by insisting on inclusion of a condition to make it mandatory on anyone seeking official information to get a No Objection Certificate (NOC), Dawn reports.

The committee however, did not comply with the MoD's vision and went ahead with the draft.

Senator Kamil Agha said that the bill would give media and the common man access to all types of information, be it secret, classified, confidential or simple and putting every government department under the ambit of the bill.

He further said that the decisions of the government would also be placed on websites including appointments of officials and their perks and privileges.

According to the report, those government officials who fail to provide information within 20 days will face complaints against him/ her and Senator Agha has suggested punishment for any non-compliance.