Citizens of AJK demand for enactment of Right to Information Act (19A) in AJK Immediately

Only AJK region/State is without this law while act is passed by all provinces in Pakistan 

Right to Information (RTI) is a fundamental human right. It means the right of people to access information and records held by public bodies or Organizations that benefit from taxpayers’ money. In countries that have appropriate RTI legislation individuals can easily seek and receive information from government departments and public bodies. RTI is recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976) and the UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection (1985). RTI is essential to protect individuals’ right to life and liberty, as well as to enable practice of freedom of expression.

Right to Information means that everyone should have the right to access information or records held by or under the control of any public authority. It includes the right to: 

·        Inspect works, documents, and records; 

·        Take notes, extracts, or certified copies of documents or records;

·        Take certified samples of materials;

·        Obtain information in any form such as diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or through printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device. 

Importance of Right to Information  is the oxygen of democracy and Right to Information has been recognized as a fundamental right and touchstone of all the freedoms to which the UN is consecrated. It ensures accountability and transparency in the functioning of public bodies and it empowers people to meaningfully participate in decision making processes at various levels of government. The concept of RTI is not new; rather it has evolved through recognition by internationally accepted and recognized legal and human rights instruments, as well as through continuous efforts on the part of various reputed individuals, social movements and non-governmental organizations. 

Right to Information Legislation in Pakistan:  

Federal :

·        April 08, 2010-Article 19-A inserted in the constitution through 18th Amendment and right to information is acknowledged as fundamental constitutional right.

KP:

·        August 18, 2013-Governor promulgated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Ordinance 2013  October 31, 2013- Provincial Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act 2013.

·        November 05, 2013-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act 2013 is notified in the official gazette.

Punjab:

·        October 04, 2013-Governor promulgates Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Ordinance 2013.

·        12 December, 2013- Provincial Assembly of Punjab passed Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013. • December 16, 2013-Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013 is notified in the official gazette

Azad Jammu & Kashmir

A piece of Land without Law, Citizen of AJK waiting for the fundamental right