This commission is of the view that the requested information about job Description (JD), Administrative and Financial Powers, Gross and Net Salary, recruitment process, syllabus for recruitment of Section Officer (BPS-17) in Senate Secretariat cannot be exempted under Section 7 (f) of the Act. Under this Section, the information can only be exempted from disclosure when it is established through recorded reasons that the harm from disclosure of information outweighs public interest.
The Honourable Chairman, Senate of Pakistan has restricted the disclosure of requested information on the ground of ‘sensitive nature of work’ performed by the employees of the Senate Secretariat. This commission is of the view that exempting the requested information on the ground of ‘sensitive nature of work performed by the employees of the Senate Secretariat does not meet the threshold of harm from disclosure outweighing public interest. The Appellant has not sought access to any sensitive information/records. The Appellant has sought information about job Description (JD), Administrative and Financial Powers, Gross and Net Salary, recruitment process, syllabus for recruitment of Section Officer (BPS-17) which is a matter of public importance.
This commission is of the view that right of access to information in matters of public importance can only be restricted on reasonable grounds supported by law. This commission holds that only provisions of this Act can restrict disclosure of any information.
This commission notes with concern that the Senate Secretariat has neither implemented nor approach Islamabad High Court to set aside earlier Orders of the commission in Appeal No. 051/06/19, Mukhtar Ahmed Ali Vs. Senate Secretariat and Appeal No. 632-09/20, Taimoor Khan Vs NA Secretariat and Senate Secretariat.