Weaknesses of Sindh FOI Act 2006

1. 09th May, 2015
Shehri-CBE & FOSI-P
Hotel Movenpick, Karachi
109 May 2015 Dr. SYED RAZA ALI GARDEZI
Shehri-Citizens for Better Environment
WEAKNESS
OF
SINDH FOI ACT, 2006

2. 09 May 2015 2
“ Every citizen shall have the right to
have access to information in all
matters of public importance subject
to regulation and reasonable
restrictions imposed by law”
~ Article 19A of the constitution of Pakistan.
Dr. SYED RAZA ALI GARDEZI
Shehri-Citizens for Better Environment

3. FOI Legislations in Pakistan
• The Federal Freedom of Information Ordinance, 2002
• Federal Freedom of Information Rules, 2004
• Balochistan Freedom of Information Act, 2005
• Balochistan Freedom of Information Rules, 2007
• Sindh Freedom of Information Act, 2006
• Article 19A of the Constitution of Pakistan (2010)
• KP Right to Information Act, 2013
• The Punjab Transparency and RTI Act, 2013.
• The Punjab Transparency and RTI Rules, 2014.
• Sindh Local Government Act, 2013 (Sec: 150 & 154)
09 May 2015 3Dr. SYED RAZA ALI GARDEZI
Shehri-Citizens for Better Environment

4. Chronology of FOI in Pakistan
• 1990: First attempt was made by Professor Khurshid Ahmad, Senator JI.
• 1994: Senator Malik Qasim, made the second attempt in 1994.
• 1997: FIRST FOI LEGISLATION, an ordinance is enacted by Malik Mairaj Khalid.
• 2000: Federal Minister Javed Jabbar made public a draft FOI Bill.
• 2002: Gen. Pervez Musharraf promulgates the FOI Ordinance. (26-10-2002)
• 2004: Federal FOI Rules & Regulations, 2004. (18-06-2004)
• 2005: Balochistan Freedom Of Information Act, 2005. (06-12-2005)
• 2006: Sindh Freedom Of Information Act, 2006. (22-12-2006)
• 2007: Balochistan FOI Rules & Regulations, 2007. (20-11-2007)
• 2008: Sherry Rehman’s RTI Bill.
• 2010: Article 19-A, in the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. (08-04-2010)
• 2013: The Sindh Local Government Act, 2013. (16-09-2013)
• 2013: KP Right To Information Act, 2013. (05-11-2013)
• 2013: Punjab Transparency & Right To Information Act, 2013. (16-12-2013)
09 May 2015 4Dr. SYED RAZA ALI GARDEZI
Shehri-Citizens for Better Environment

5. Chronology of FOI in Pakistan
• 2013: Sahibzada Muhammad Khalid appointed as the KP CIC.
• 2014: J: Mazhar Minhas as Punjab CIC, Ahmed Raza & Mukhtar Ahmed as IC.
• 2015: Punjab Transparency & Right To Information Rules 2014. (04-01-2015)
09 May 2015 5Dr. SYED RAZA ALI GARDEZI
Shehri-Citizens for Better Environment

6. WEAKNESSES
OF
SINDH FOI ACT,
2006
09 May 2015 6Dr. SYED RAZA ALI GARDEZI
Shehri-Citizens for Better Environment

7. 1. Public Body not clearly defined.
(Section 2-h)
2. Limited list of allowable information
(Section 8)
3. Extensive List of Exceptions
(Section 9,15,16,17,18)
• Any record which the Government declares as exempt.
4. Delayed Time Line (21+30+60 days)
09 May 2015 7Dr. SYED RAZA ALI GARDEZI
Shehri-Citizens for Better Environment
P.I.O. H.o.D. Ombudsman
President /
Governor
21 days 30 days 60 days

8. 09 May 2015 8Dr. SYED RAZA ALI GARDEZI
Shehri-Citizens for Better Environment
5. No Independent Appellate Authority
(Ombudsman)
6. No Penalty for Non-provision of
Information
7. No over-riding effect of the law.
(Section 22)
• Official Secrets Act,1923
8. Rules & Regulations Not Framed

9. CENTRE FOR LAW AND DEMOCRACY RTI RATING
(28th Sept. 2012)
 Pakistan’s rating was 82 (score of 66) among
100 nations.
 Serbia with a score of 135 was first,
 with Slovenia second (score of 129)
 and India third (score of 128).
09 May 2015 9
SCORE RANGE NUMBER OF COUNTRIES
37 - 69 24
70 - 102 49
103 - 135 22
Dr. SYED RAZA ALI GARDEZI
Shehri-Citizens for Better Environment

10. SINDH, KP & PUNJAB LAWS
To-date, Shehri has filed 244 FOI requests under Sindh FOI Act, 2006:
KP RTI ACT, 2013: (RTI Commission)
PUNJAB TRANSPARENCY & RTI ACT, 2013: (RTI Commission)
09 May 2015 10Dr. SYED RAZA ALI GARDEZI
Shehri-Citizens for Better Environment
TOTAL NUMBER OF REQUESTS FILED: 244
Number of Requests Resolved: 67 (28 %)
Number of Request Pending: 177 (72 %)
Number of Requests Resolved Without Appeal: 09
TOTAL NUMBER OF REQUESTS FILED: 233
Number of Requests Resolved: 135 (58 %)
Number of Request Pending: 98 (72 %)
TOTAL NUMBER OF REQUESTS FILED: 480
Number of Requests Resolved: 185 (39 %)
Number of Request Pending: 295 (61 %)

11. SINDH, KP & PUNJAB LAWS
Sindh FOI Act, 2006:
KP RTI ACT, 2013: (RTI Commission)
PUNJAB TRANSPARENCY & RTI ACT, 2013: (RTI Commission)
“PUBLIC OPINION ON QUALITY OF GOVERNANCE IN PAKISTAN”
by PILDAT
09 May 2015 11Dr. SYED RAZA ALI GARDEZI
Shehri-Citizens for Better Environment
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS APPOINTED: 0
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS APPOINTED: 600
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS APPOINTED: 520
SINDH KP PUNJAB
TRANSPARENCY INDEX - 39 + 7 + 1