Peshawar: Aug 13, 2014: Prof
Kaleem Ullah, Commissioner Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Commission
said that RTI is to strengthen the citizens and citizens should own it. He was
speaking in a seminar organized by Centre for Governance and Public
Accountability (CGPA) in District Press Club in Kohat on Wednesday.
Mr. Zai Ullah Bangash,
Member of Provincial Assembly stated that the law makes the elected
representatives and public bodies accountable to the citizens, therefore its
importance for democracy can’t be overlooked. He stressed that citizens should actively
practice their Right to Information by information requests to public bodies.
Members of civil society
organizations, Journalists, Lawyers & public officials attended the seminar.
Muhammad Anwar, Executive Director CGPA shared salient features of the law and explained
how affective the use of RTI Act is for the accountability of the government
employees. He shared the process of filing information request to the public
body. He stated that there is no need to submit fee or show reason for filing
of information request.
Prof Kaleem Ullah, the chief guest of the seminar, explained
about the structure of the commission as well as the process of filing
complaints and the role and responsibilities of the commission. Prof Kaleem Ullah stated that all provincial
public bodies or those institutions performing public functions can be accessed
for the right to information under the law. He stated that the information
commission is fully prepared to ensure citizens constitution rights as
determined by the law. The use of RTI Act will make us honorable as well as
respectable citizens and this Act should be used by every citizen, Prof Kaleem
Ullah concluded.
