ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) are deeply concerned about the proposed amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code 1898, by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior, which has recommended that persons who ‘disrespect’ or ‘intentionally ridicule’ the armed forces be fined or imprisoned.

The PFUJ, PBC and HRCP believe that this amendment is ultra vires to the Constitution and contradicts Article 19, which protects the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press, the journalists, lawyers and human rights bodies said in a joint press release issued here on Friday

Expressing their alarm, PBC Vice Chairman Khushdil Khan, PFUJ President Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary-General Nasir Zaidi said that the amendment was designed to usurp citizens’ rights and civil liberties, which were already being muzzled by the government. They added that the people of Pakistan were well aware of the importance of state institutions, including the armed forces, and did not need an amendment to prove this.

The leadership of the PFUJ, PBC and HRCP further said that respect was earned and could not be enforced through laws. The proposed amendment intentionally or unintentionally makes the institution controversial by setting out that military officers need a punitive law to be enforced against their own people. They urged both the parliament and government to refrain from framing such laws that would also be seen as a blot on Pakistan’s image in the international community.

Our correspondent adds from Karachi: Adopting a resolution, Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) on Friday said that bar is firmly of the view that armed forces of Pakistan are subordinate departments of the ministry of defence. The armed forces like other departments and government personnel who serve the nation like the police or health workers or teachers should enjoy the respect of the people.

The bar was of the view that this respect must be genuinely earned and cannot be commanded under threat of imprisonment.

SHBCA said that it is right of the people of a democratic country to freely criticize or even mock any government body or department, including the armed forces, without living under the hanging sword of prosecution as there should be no sacred cows in a democratic polity.

The bar association considered the proposed amendment to be another attack on freedom of media (which was already under a partial gag) and on the freedom of expression generally and to be clear violation of Article 19 of the Constitution. The bar association also resolved to oppose and resist any such amendment before all possible forums to the hilt.

Newspaper: The News

He was chairing the first ‘RTI Baithak’ organized by Beacon house University on ‘Role of Civil Society in making Government system transparent’. He said that it is a general practice that budgets are formulated without consultation with the stakeholders and when budget is announced, people start hue and cry and then issues are re-examined and discussed. However, for the first time the Government has been consulting all stakeholders in budget formulation. He hoped that this time budget will be comparatively better and reflective of the aspirations of the people as well as the business community.

He said that today’s ‘RTI Baithak’ is also a positive step in bringing transparency in Government Departments as tax payers have the right to know where their money is being spent. He demanded that entire Government system should be computerized and replaced with e-governance system as it was impossible for any Government to have direct access to the each and every person. He said that Punjab Board of Information Technology is already working on this pattern and record of some of the Government Departments has also been computerized that is available on their website.

Zafar Dogar a senior journalist expressed its apprehension about the exemptions provided in the Act and said that in general practice these exemptions are being allowed to nullify the benefits of such important law.

Zaeem Yaqoob Khan , Director, Beacon house National University said that Beacon house University has already conduced three Baithak in Lahore for the sensitization of civil society in addition to bringing positive improvement in this Act Now three sittings are being held in Faisalabad followed by two in Multan and another three to be conducted in Lahore. We are preparing Logo and Video documentaries on the benefits of this Act and all these will be provided to the Information Commission to facilitate to start working in effective and efficient manner.

Business Recorder

Civil society organisations say the draft of the RTI should have been presented and discussed in the assembly before being made a law and argue that the definition of ‘information’ in the ordinance remains vague. However, regardless, the document has many important clauses. One of its intelligent inclusions is providing protection to whistleblowers — an issue of growing international debate. While the ANP was unable to pass an act in this regard during its tenure, the PTI-led government was swift to implement the legislation as an ordinance. At a time when the PTI has been subjected to much criticism, the RTI comes as a breather for the newly-elected government, especially a week before the by-elections, which will give a testament to the performance of the government in its short tenure. The K-P government’s initiative is likely to leave a deep footprint on the road to democracy. The ordinance sets an important precedent and will put pressure on other provincial governments to allow access to information and increase accountability. While government departments will have their fair share of challenges as they come under direct public scrutiny for the first time, in the long run, this will only help the province and the country emerge stronger.

Express Tribune

Speaking at a mobilisation camp here, civil society activists and others said the passage of the RTI ordinance in the KP province was going to be a game changer in the country. It is ‘something new and positive’ in Pakistan after decades, they added.They said people needed access to information for making their voices heard and resolving their problems.

“We hope the Punjab government will enact the RTI law soon. But we want that the whistleblowers in the government offices should be protected under the law. There should also be rigorous punishment for all those officials who will not respond to the public complaints or provide the citizens with misleading information,” said an official of the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) that had organised the camp.

Mehr Nasim, a university student, observed that the RTI law would not only empower people but would also help bridge the gap between the citizens and the state. “We, the taxpayers, want to know where exactly our money is being utilised and how? We have waited for decades to get our voices heard and make those at the helm of affairs accountable to the people,” added Zakiya Minhas, an engineering student.

Fareeda Khan, a high court lawyer, said more than 80 per cent pending litigations in courts were related to land disputes mainly because it took years to get the revenue record from the patwaris. She added that the RTI law would make it easy for the people to get the needed information and record within a few days.

The participants said after the passage of the RTI law, it would be the duty of every person to make awareness among people about how to get access to the public information so that maximum number of citizens can get advantage of the law.

The advocates of RTI law on the occasion also asked the federal government to come up with a similar law so that people can ask about the transparency in multi-billion projects, purchase of government machinery or even the travel log of politicians and bureaucrats.

“Let us enter into a new era and claim our rights. After the KP government, other provinces should also formulate similar laws to facilitate the citizens to get access to information,” said Dr Kanwal Khawar, one of the speakers.

DAWN