Workshop on Sindh Right to Information Bill held

Karachi
Shehri-Citizens for a Better Environment organised a consultative session on the draft of the Sindh, Right to Information (RTI) Bill, 2015 in collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs) and concerned citizens under the banner of ‘Coalition for Transparency and Access to Information (C-TAI)’ at a hotel on Saturday.
Introduction of the RTI policy advocacy project was given by senior member Shehri-CBE Amra Javed. She highlighted the efforts of the organisation in propagating the freedom of information legislation and the amount of research and hard work which was put into creating the proposed draft.
Dr Raza Gardezi also a member of Shehri-CBE and author of the proposed RTI bill, gave a presentation on the salient features of a standard RTI law, followed with a detailed insight on the bill.
The primary features of the proposed law included maximum disclosure, limited exceptions, reduction in response time, minimum charges, introduction of indemnity clause to protect information seekers and ordaining magistracy powers to the Information Commissioner to summon petitioners and defendants.
The organisation believed the new law would enable transparency and good governance. The right to information was guaranteed by article 19-A of the constitution.
However, the present law was misused by public officials to prevent information disclosure under the restriction clauses.
According to Dr Gardezi, an informed citizen could make better political choices and monitor the performance of public bodies which in turn supported transparency in democracy.
Therefore, a comprehensive Sindh RTI legislation would ensure effective implementation of mechanisms for Freedom of Information. A matching political will could play a significant role in achieving this purpose, he observed.
C-TAI, the RTI advocacy coalition, included The Helpline Trust, District Hindu Panchayat Committee, Indus Earth, Shirkatgah, Aurat Foundation, Hisaar Foundation, Transparency International - Pakistan, Baanhn Beli, Sustainable Initiatives, Bolo Bhi, Sindh Community Foundation, Pakistan Press Foundation, War Against Rape, NOW Communities, URC, SPDC, SAIBAN, SCOPE, PILER, SPO, SAFWCO and Shehri-CBE.