This commission holds that a citizen is not required to establish ‘locus standi’ to exercise the constitutional right of access to information. In fact, Section 11 (5) of the Act specifically mentions that an applicant is not required to provide reasons for seeking information from a public body.
This commission has already held in different appeals that documents submitted by firms/individuals to a public body for contracts are public documents as these documents reveal level of competence of the firms/individuals to carry out tasks funded by the tax-payers of the country.
In the instant appeal, the requested information cannot be exempted on the grounds of privacy as it involves public funds. The documents submitted as a part of process to determine qualification and level of competence for the award of government contracts cannot be declared private information. However, telephone numbers, CNIC, home addresses, health condition etc. is private information and it should be withheld.