A training workshop was held for journalists organised by the Center for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) where the importance of right to freedom of information and its use in investigative journalism was discussed.
Zahid Abdullah conducted the workshop highlighting how journalists digging deep to find a story or revealing facts about the government needed access to information but the right was not granted to them. He said the 1973 Constitution did not discuss the right to freedom of information; only freedom of speech and writing were mentioned in Article 19. Hence, the current laws need immediate improvement, he added.
Although Pakistan had a Freedom of Information Act in place, it lacked detail and implementation, said Zahid, adding that till now, about 90 countries had executed the act including India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The Freedom of Information Act of Pakistan only allowed limited access to information, without defining terms like “records” and “information”.
With growing culture of secrecy and corruption, the laws professed the aim to promote transparency but did not prove effective. A lack of scientific research in forming policies regarding the functioning of public departments was the prime reason behind the failure, said Zahid. He alleged that departmental policies often lacked public consideration and consultations and were aimed to achieve political mileage rather than promote transparency and public access to information.
