Pakistan- Only 12 RTI applications filed in merged districts in one and half years

(MENAFN- Tribal News Network) Usman Khan

PESHAWAR: Like other laws of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Right to Information (RTI) Law was also extended to merged tribal districts after Fata-KP merger under the 25th constitutional amendment.

However, this step did not make any difference as only 12 RTI applications have been filed in government departments of tribal districts during the last one and a half years.

According to information received from the RTI office, Kurram was on top with six RTI applications, followed by Khyber district with three applications and one each application from Mohmand, North and South Waziristan. Not even a single RTI application has been filed from Bajaur and Orakzai.

Along with merged districts, RTI has also been extended to Malakand Division (former Pata) where the results are comparatively better. Thirty-nine such applications have been filed in Malakand Division so far and in most cases, the relevant departments have provided the required information to applicants.

Ali Afzal, a journalist based in Kurram, said while talking to TNN that many people in merged districts don't know about RTI. He said practical steps are needed to create awareness among the people of merged districts about utilisaiton of this law. He said it will not be easy to change the old-style working of bureaucrats in tribal districts. He said sincere efforts are needed to ensure proper utilisaiton of the law.

Syed Saadat Jehan, spokesman for RTI Commission, said the Commission is working on awareness campaign in merged districts which will be implemented this month. He said Jirgas, seminars and advertisement campaigns will be carried out in merged districts to inform them about the importance of RTI law. He said these programmes will be implemented as soon as the government and donor agencies release funds.

The spokesman admitted that the outcome of the RTI law extension in merged districts hasn't been encouraging so far. However, he said the Commission is in contact with civil society, journalists and other stakeholders to achieve the desired results of the law extension of merged districts.

Saadat said public information officers (PIOs) will be appointed in each tribal district for providing required information to applicants. He said the head of every department is responsible for providing information until a PIO is not appointed in that department.

Qazi Fazlullah, a Bara-based journalist, said the RTI law doesn't have any clause about punishment to officers who refuse to share information with applicants. He said the law can be improved by including punishment for those who refuse to provide information.

Khyber Youth Forum president Aamir Afridi said committees should be set up in merged districts on grassroots level to inform the people about importance of the law. He said merged districts are spread over a huge area and mere installation of few billboards for creating awareness on the law won't work.

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