Two-Year Delay: Journalist Withdraws RTI Appeal Against PTV as Protest

ISLAMABAD: Journalist Saadia Mazhar has withdrawn her appeal against Pakistan Television, as protest over the prolonged delay in the implementation of the order of the Commission for over two years.

Mazhar had filed the RTI request in October 2024 to obtain information regarding the appointments made in the PTV , but according to her, the required information has still not been provided despite the passage of almost two years. She has now formally requested that her appeal before the Pakistan Information Commission be withdrawn as a protest.

According to Mazhar, the Pakistan Information Commission allowed her appeal after approximately one year, which was to be decided within 60 days as per the law, and directed Pakistan Television (PTV) to provide the requested information within 10 days. She said the order was issued around September 2025, but despite the passage of almost another year, the information has still not been provided.

The applicant said that during this period, the matter was repeatedly adjourned and additional time was granted, but no effective progress was made. She said the commission also has legal powers to initiate action in case of non-compliance, but despite having such powers, it was unable to effectively enforce its own order.

Mazhar clarified that her decision to withdraw the appeal does not mean that she is giving up her right to obtain the requested information. Rather, she said, the withdrawal is a protest against the commission’s inability to ensure implementation of its own order.

She further said that she had received certain information which she currently considers off the record and, therefore, is not making any allegations against any individual or institution. However, she said the information refers to certain meetings, appointment requests and other matters involving PTV, the Ministry of Information and the commission.

According to Mazhar, these details raise questions regarding institutional transparency and possible conflicts of interest. She stressed that she was not presenting the information at this stage as conclusive evidence or as an allegation.

Mazhar said that if an institution from which citizens expect protection and enforcement of their right to information is itself unable to ensure implementation of an order issued by it, this raises questions about the effectiveness and credibility of the entire Right to Information system.

She has asked the commission to clearly include and address, in its forthcoming order, all the objections submitted by her, the unusual delay in the RTI matter, the failure to implement the commission’s own order, the non-use of available legal powers, and the reasons behind her decision to withdraw the appeal in protest.

Mazhar said, “I am not giving up my right to information; rather, I am protesting against the lack of effective progress for nearly two years.”