PIC puts off plea for information about ex-generals’ perks

ISLAMABAD: The hearing held on Tuesday before the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) in the case of information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2017 about perks and privileges of three and four-star officers of the army, navy and air force was adjourned till November 20. The request for information by former senator Farhatullah Babar, President Human Rights cell of PPP has been pending since July 2020.

Information had been denied because its disclosure was detrimental to national security. The hearing was held by Chief Information Commissioner Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui and Information Commissioner Ijaz Hasan Awan in the courtroom of PIC in Islamabad.

The defence ministry was represented by a deputy secretary while the appellant appeared in person. Arguing, Farhatullah Babar reminded the PIC of its order of May 2022 directing the defence ministry to not only provide him an answer but also to place the information about post-retirement benefits on the website of the ministry. He said that when in October 2023 a 3-member bench of SC headed by the then CJP bowed before Article 19 of the Constitution which recognizes the right to information as a fundamental right he felt encouraged to send regular reminders to the defence ministry but in vain. “All reminders have been ignored by the ministry,” he argued. The next hearing was fixed for November 20.