Registrar of Quaid-e-Azam University Fined for Failing to Disclose Public Information
Islamabad: The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) has imposed a fine equivalent to ten days’ salary on the Registrar of Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, for failing to disclose information requested under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017.
According to details, in August 2024, a citizen submitted an information request seeking details regarding faculty members granted Extraordinary Leave (EOL) without pay for postdoctoral research abroad between January 2018 and 2024. The request specifically asked for a certified list of faculty members who received leave under the Surety Bond program after completing their PhDs.
When the university failed to provide the requested information, the appellant filed an appeal with the Commission. In response, the university claimed the information was personal and classified, arguing that the requester had no legitimate reason to access it. The appellant contested this claim, stating that the requested information pertained to public records and cited previous Commission rulings in favor of transparency in public institutions.
After reviewing the case, the Pakistan Information Commission ruled that the requested information did not violate individual privacy and was part of public records maintained by the university and involved usage of public fund.
The Commission noted that there was no legal exemption under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017, to withhold it. Consequently, the appeal was allowed, and the Registrar was directed to provide the information within ten days.
Despite this order, the university failed to comply. A show-cause notice was issued to the Registrar on November 21, 2024, under Section 20(1)(f) of the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017. The notice, dispatched via registered mail, also went unanswered, and no representative appeared before the Commission.
The Commission, in its order dated December 12, 2024, expressed dissatisfaction with the Registrar’s conduct, stating that sufficient opportunities were given to comply with the law. The Registrar’s failure to respond, appear, or furnish the required information was deemed a willful obstruction of the Act’s implementation and a disregard for the law.
As a result, the Commission imposed a fine equivalent to ten days’ salary on the Registrar under Section 20(1)(f) of the Act. The Commission directed the Vice Chancellor of Quaid-e-Azam University, the Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, and the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues to ensure compliance with the order. Notices have been issued to these authorities to submit compliance reports by the next hearing, scheduled for January 15, 2025.
The Pakistan Information Commission reaffirms its commitment to upholding the principles of transparency and accountability as enshrined in the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017.
