ECP Issues RTI Regulations Declaring Key Records as Classified
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued regulations regarding the right to access information. According to the Election Commission, these regulations will apply to all central and provincial offices of the Commission. A Chief Information Officer will be appointed at the secretariat, while Public Information Officers will be designated in the provinces.
Every citizen will be able to submit an application to obtain information, and a decision on such applications will be made within 14 working days. The Election Commission has fixed a fee of 10 rupees per page for the provision of information. If the requested information is not provided, the applicant will have the right to file an appeal with the Chief Election Commissioner within 14 days.
The Election Commission has divided its record into classified and non-classified categories. Classified records will not be disclosed without permission. Legal and departmental action will be taken in case of unauthorized access to or copying of classified records. The record related to the appointment of delimitation committees will also be classified.
According to the Election Commission, documents relating to supervisors of electoral rolls, verification officers and display center in-charges, as well as records related to the Press Information Department and advertising agencies, will remain classified. Data of trainers and trainees has also been declared classified, while reports of District Monitoring Officers and monitoring teams will be kept in the classified category.
The Election Commission further stated that information related to gender and social inclusion projects has been classified. Matters concerning employee hiring, official and residential allotments have also been declared classified. The record of purchase and registration of vehicles will be classified, along with file notes, correspondence and draft approvals. The authority will have the power to declare any document as classified.
It is pertinent to mention that the Islamabad High Court has already held that the Election Commission of Pakistan is not answerable under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017 and is not considered a public body under that Act. However, the Election Commission has issued the above-mentioned regulations in compliance with Article 19A of the Constitution of Pakistan.
