PESHAWAR: The Centre for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA) urges the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to appoint Information Commissioners in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Commission (KPIC).
Two Information Commissioners’ seats have been vacant, one since November 8, 2019, and the other since July 10, 2022.
This delay has resulted in an incomplete quorum of the KPIC, as stated in Section 25 (4) of the KP Right to Information Act 2013.
The KP Information Commission has become dysfunctional due to the non-appointment of the two Information Commissioners.
Muhammad Anwar, Executive Director of CGPA, expressed concern over the delay in appointing Information Commissioners, despite repeated requests.
He emphasized that the delay violates citizens’ fundamental rights to access information under Article 19-A of the Constitution of Pakistan.
As per Section 25 (1) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act 2013, the primary function of the Information Commission is to resolve complaints.
Due to the delay in appointments, the Information Commission cannot address complaints due to an incomplete quorum, resulting in a significant backlog of complaints.
Currently, over 1,700 complaints are pending with KPIC.
Anwar urged the KP government to promptly fill the vacant Information Commissioners’ positions to ensure timely resolution of complaints by KPIC.
He emphasized that any further delay could undermine citizens’ trust in KPIC, an essential institution mandated to enforce the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act 2013.
Anwar also highlighted that the PTI government in KP has pledged to combat corruption and enhance transparency, making the continued dysfunction of KPIC contradictory to PTI’s election promises.
