IHC Adjourns Hearing on NA Petition Against Information Commission Ruling
Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court heard a writ petition filed by the National Assembly challenging a decision of the Pakistan Information Commission.
The hearing was conducted by Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, where petitioner Saadia Mazhar appeared along with her counsel, Advocate Ghulam Qasim Bhatti.
Upon the request of the petitioner’s counsel, the court adjourned the hearing to a later date.
Advocate Ghulam Qasim Bhatti informed the court that the petitioner became aware of the case hearing through a newspaper advertisement, and therefore sought time for arguments.
Saadia Mazhar had, in 2022, requested information from the National Assembly under the right to access information law. Her request included details regarding privilege motions submitted by members of the National Assembly.
She had also sought details of the responses provided by relevant departments to those privilege motions, as well as information about questions forwarded to standing committees along with their findings and recommendations.
After not receiving the requested information, Saadia Mazhar approached the Pakistan Information Commission.
On June 1, 2022, the Pakistan Information Commission ruled in her favor and directed the National Assembly to provide the requested information within 10 days.
However, instead of complying with the order, the National Assembly filed a writ petition in the Islamabad High Court challenging the decision.
It is also noteworthy that another appeal filed by Saadia Mazhar, seeking records related to recruitments in the National Assembly, is still pending before the Islamabad High Court.
