Sugarcane
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ISLAMABAD: Finally the office of the president has tasted its own medicine. A citizen has filed an appeal to the President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain against the Presidency for denying information sought under a presidential ordinance about the expenses on Hajj of President and his relatives.
Naeem Sadiq, a Karachi-based Right to Information (RTI) activist, had written to the Presidency on October 28 last year inquiring about the expenses incurred on Hajj, as the president’s family and staff also accompanied him for the purpose.The president’s spokesperson didn’t respond to the calls despite repeated messages dropped by The News for his version.
The information sought under the ‘right to information’ was: a) Names of all persons who accompanied the president during his Hajj visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2013; b) Amount spent on travel and stay of each individual; c) Who paid for the travel and living expenses of each individual; d) Were they paid by the president from his own pocket or sponsored by the Government of Pakistan?
Naeem filed this RTI application exercising his fundamental right under Article 19-A of the Constitution and further defined in the Freedom of Information Ordinance (FOI) 2002, promulgated by President of Pakistan, which allows a citizen to seek information from any public body. The law requires the public body to respond to the applicant with correct and certified information within 21 working days.
Federal Ombudsman is the next forum for appeal against the denial of public information by any department under FOI Ordinance 2002. Naeem approached the Ombudsman office on December 3 last year but the Ombudsman did not take up the matter either although he is required to dispose of the complain within a period of sixty days.
Even if Ombudsman had decided the case in favour of the complainant, the next forum of appeal is also the Presidency which itself is facing allegation of denying the information requested.
“I am therefore left with no choice but to appeal to the President and the Head of the State to intervene and ensure that information requested from the Presidency is provided immediately,” reads Naeem’s application addressed to the President. “You will appreciate that not doing so amounts to violating the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002 as well as Article 19A of the Constitution of Pakistan,” it further says.
Allow me Sir, the application says, to remind you of the oath that you have taken:”I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.” It is time to give meaning to these momentous words.
President moved against himself - thenews.com.pk
Main tere qurban, mera sohna Pakistan
Naeem Sadiq, a Karachi-based Right to Information (RTI) activist, had written to the Presidency on October 28 last year inquiring about the expenses incurred on Hajj, as the president’s family and staff also accompanied him for the purpose.The president’s spokesperson didn’t respond to the calls despite repeated messages dropped by The News for his version.
The information sought under the ‘right to information’ was: a) Names of all persons who accompanied the president during his Hajj visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2013; b) Amount spent on travel and stay of each individual; c) Who paid for the travel and living expenses of each individual; d) Were they paid by the president from his own pocket or sponsored by the Government of Pakistan?
Naeem filed this RTI application exercising his fundamental right under Article 19-A of the Constitution and further defined in the Freedom of Information Ordinance (FOI) 2002, promulgated by President of Pakistan, which allows a citizen to seek information from any public body. The law requires the public body to respond to the applicant with correct and certified information within 21 working days.
Federal Ombudsman is the next forum for appeal against the denial of public information by any department under FOI Ordinance 2002. Naeem approached the Ombudsman office on December 3 last year but the Ombudsman did not take up the matter either although he is required to dispose of the complain within a period of sixty days.
Even if Ombudsman had decided the case in favour of the complainant, the next forum of appeal is also the Presidency which itself is facing allegation of denying the information requested.
“I am therefore left with no choice but to appeal to the President and the Head of the State to intervene and ensure that information requested from the Presidency is provided immediately,” reads Naeem’s application addressed to the President. “You will appreciate that not doing so amounts to violating the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002 as well as Article 19A of the Constitution of Pakistan,” it further says.
Allow me Sir, the application says, to remind you of the oath that you have taken:”I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.” It is time to give meaning to these momentous words.
President moved against himself - thenews.com.pk
Main tere qurban, mera sohna Pakistan
