Thread by @TheRazaAliS

𝐏𝐂𝐁’𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐓𝐈 𝐀𝐜𝐭, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞:
On Jul 6, 2021, I filed an Info request to @TheRealPCB under #federal #RTI Act for obtaining information
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regarding contracts signed with legal firms to represent PCB at legal forums and copies of contracts signed by #PCB with cricket managers. No response was received from @TheRealPCBMedia @TheRealPCB & I lodged an appeal with @PkInfoCom on 27 July 2021.
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in response to my letter, PCB quoted “the magic time frame itself shows that the law at hand is being abused for personal and ulterior motives”. I submitted my argument to @PkInfoCom on 27 Aug 2021 that the response of PCB lawyers is evasive and not satisfactory.
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My position was that the #PCB is established under the Sports (Development and Control) Ordinance 1962 and their offices & playgrounds are on state land, from where they generate funds, so PCB is a public body.
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On 10-Nov-2021 PIC issued 8 pages order & rejected PCB’s baseless arguments to keep hiding the information. Though, the PIC ordered to share the information with the applicant by 20-11-21, it has not been shared yet.
Order rti.gov.pk/order-on-appea… rti.gov.pk/order-on-appea…
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Instead of complying with the order of PIC and obeying Article 19-A of the #constitution of 🇵🇰, PCB filed a writ petition before Lahore High Court (#LHC). Two hearings were called by the #court
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On the first hearing, I submitted my comments, and on the second hearing notice, #LahoreHighCourt (#LHC) said to ensure legal representation on the next hearing date. However, the matter is still pending before LHC.
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The question is whether @najamsethi Chairperson @TheRealPCB who has been championing the cause of #transparency & played an instrumental role in the promulgation of Freedom of Information Ordinance #FOI in late 90s will make #PCB more open or will it be business as usual?
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The question is how can ordinary citizens have access to public information despite #RTI being their #constitutional and #legal right? Why departments are reluctant to share information with the citizens, who are the owners of that information.
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#Article 19-A of the #Constitution and the 5 #RTI laws in the country have given this right to citizens. If you did nothing wrong, then why do you hide information?
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In this context, we must keep in mind what Thomas Freidman said: “Governments that try to control information are fighting a losing battle and if they bother trying, will face exorbitant costs”.
#RTI #Transparency #Accountability

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