PIC Serves Show Cause Notice to National Saving Centre Chief for Defying RTI Act
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) has issued show cause notice to the Director General of the National Saving Centre over continuous non-compliance with the Commission’s order regarding a citizen’s right to access public information under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017.
According to detail, the case stems from an information request filed by a citizen, Munir Ahmed, on July 4, 2024. The request sought copy of Special Audit Reports related to four branches of the National Saving Centre, namely Mirpur, Pindi Gheb, Rawalakot, and Jehlum.
Under the RTI Act, the National Saving Centre was legally obligated to respond to the information request within 10 working days. However, the organization remained silent well beyond the stipulated time, prompting the citizen to file an appeal with the Pakistan Information Commission.
Despite the Commission’s subsequent order dated October 8, 2025, directing the Director General of the National Saving Centre to provide the requested audit reports, the department has failed to comply — even after more than five months since the order was passed.
Additionally, the public body has not challenged the Commission’s directive by filing a writ petition with the Islamabad High Court, despite a legal window of 30 days to do so.
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Citing these delays and clear disregard for legal procedure, the Commission has directed the Director General to show cause as to why proceedings under Section 20 (f) of the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017 should not be initiated against him for non-compliance. The show cause notice also cites Section 20(1)(f) of the Act, which empowers the Commission to “impose on the official a fine equivalent to his salary for one day, for a maximum of a hundred days, who has acted willfully to obstruct any activity which is required to be undertaken by this Act; including preventing or delaying the disclosure of information to an applicant.”
In line with the Act, the Commission has also invoked Section 21(1)(f), stating that the Director General must explain why a penalty should not be imposed for failing to implement the Commission’s binding order.
The next hearing of the case has been scheduled for April 29, 2025, at the Pakistan Information Commission, where the Director General is expected to justify his actions and avoid potential penalties under the law.
