PIC orders SBP to disclose list of employees having dual nationality in 10 days

LAHORE: The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) Saturday issued orders to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to disclose the list of employees with dual nationality, married with citizens of other countries within 10 days under the Right to Access to Information Act 2017.

In Azmat Khan v State Bank of Pakistan case, the Information Commission has ordered Governor SBP to also provide other information as requested.

Chief Information Commissioner Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui and Information Commissioner Ijaz Hassan Awan said in the decision petitioner Azmat Khan had asked the SBP authorities for a list of officers, employees and those who work for local or international NGOs, community development organisations or non-profit organisations. The petitioner had also asked for details of action taken by SBP against the employees holding dual citizenship, married with citizens of other countries or providing consultancy to international NGOs and institutions. The chief information commissioner said the information sought by the petitioner is public record and no exemption can be granted to the State Bank on its disclosure under the Right to Access to Information Act. The SBP had informed the commission in its reply the said information did not fall under Right to Access to Information Act. The commissioner said it was the authority of commission to decide on this matter, not the State Bank.

The commission said the State Bank filed a review appeal against the decision to disclose the information, arguing they had not been heard in the case. The SBP also took a position in the appeal in a similar case—Rana Abrar v State Bank of Pakistan—the Information Commission had issued orders to provide information, but the Islamabad High Court had suspended commission’s orders on SBP’s plea. Regarding the SBP’s claim they were not heard in the case, the commission said notices were issued to them and the decision announced after their non-appearance.

The commission also said the second justification given by the SBP that Islamabad High Court issued any stay order on the decision is not correct. This decision was not challenged by State Bank in Islamabad High Court, the commission said, adding both the positions taken by the SBP in the review appeal were rejected.

Public Information Officer and Director Legal SBP Khawar Rana said they had not received the commission’s orders yet.