Right to information linked to good governance

HYDERABAD: Lawyers, human rights activists, civil society members and media persons on Saturday evening reaffirmed the fact that strengthening democratic institutions will help providing the right to information to citizens and good governance.
The dialogue on Right to Information (RTI) and Good Governance, organized by the Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) attracted experts and activists to share their views about the blockages of information, depriving citizens of their right to know, which is guaranteed by the Constitution. The event concluded after two-day training of youth, hailing from different districts of Sindh province, mainly students of various subjects, including law, to understand the RTI legislation and hindrances in its way to implementation.
Dr Raza Gardaizi of the Karachi-based organisation Shehri claimed that his organisation has filed 280 applications related to such developments in the city, which may harm the citizens, but they received response on only 80 applications and are still waiting for reaction regarding the other submissions.
He linked the hope that the youth members and media may play their role to force the government to improve the legislation as per suggestions designed by the RTI advocacy coalition, comprising 24 organizations and right groups and submitted to the government. Gardaizi said the law was formulated earlier in 2006, but it proved nothing due to flawed and vague points, which the government officials make good reason not to share the information to the citizen’s parties and as a result the citizens do not see what is happening around them. He said the law was designed by the Sindh government without consultation of the citizen groups and followed guidelines of donors.
He said that was responsibility of all stakeholders, including youth, media and civil society and professionals to take up the matter to avoid the corruption and manipulation of national money, which should be spent for only on development for the common citizens, instead of allowing certain ruling elites to put it in their pockets.
Senior peasant rights leader Punhal Sario, SCF executive director Javed Hussain, M Perkash Advocate of minority rights forum, Dr Asho Thama, Coordinator of HRCP Sindh Task Force, SPO Regional Head Mustafa Baloch, who is also a representative of voice of oppressed communities, senior journalists Mahesh Kumar, Ishaq Mangrio, campaigner of agriculture sector promotion Waheed Jamili of Search and Razzak Umrani of HANDS also talked on the issue and contributed suggestions.
Shehri designed the RTI draft with the coalition partners with suggestions to implement the same and ensure the right to the citizens so they may raise their voice in the national interest. Punhal Sario, a leading campaigner of human rights in Sindh related recent incidents in which not only the government, but certain outlawed forces themselves oppose the people, who want to know from the communities or exploited segments. In this regard, the murder of Sabeen Mahmood of ‘The Second Floor’ in Karachi is big example of how certain people are hostile and force saner elements not to share their own thinking against their exploitation and rights abuse.
“We are living in a society and facing threats from every side. We cannot dare to ask about anything from government offices.” Mustafa Baloch of the SPO gave the background, saying the information flow comes despite the forceful blockage by certain government officials and political parties. He appealed to the campaigners to continue their work and knock at the doors of the governments without linking more hope to them.
He gave examples of how some governments exercised their powers and imposed a ban on novels and other publications to deprive the citizens of their right to know. But now we can see the change and access to such publications.
Javed Hussain of the SCF said the Sindh flow of information Act 2006 was promulgated long ago but it is not effective yet due to procedural delays as part of the concerned officials and there is no penalty defined in the law against officials, who are found reluctant to share. M Perkash advocate said it is common approach and bureaucratic hostility has caused bad governance and is pushing the citizens to stay unaware.
He said local bodies institutions are mid points wherefrom the people know about their development process and flaws on the part of such legislation and officials.