Arguments that “the Superior Courts do publish Annual Reports on their working giving, amongst other things, the details of yearwise institution/disposal/pendency of cases for information of the general public” and that “Such reports as well as other necessary information pertaining to the composition of Courts, etc., are also available on the websites of the respective Courts” are in contravention to the spirit of the Act, 2017 and problematic on many counts. If these arguments are valid in the case of superior judiciary with regard to its administrative functions involving public funds pertaining to procurements and recruitments, the same arguments can be valid in the case of other public bodies for they all publish annual reports and share with citizens information what they deem fit to be shared. Furthermore, these arguments tantamount to restricting citizens’ right of access to information in an arbitrary manner whereas Article 19-A allows putting in place “reasonable restrictions imposed by law”, which have been duly imposed under the Act, 2017.
Tags:Pakistan Information CommissionRegistrar Islamabad High CourtSyed Muhammad Irfan PirzadaZahid Abdullah