Pakistan Information Commission declares Cabinet Division’ notification U.O No.5/16/90-Security, dated 4 April, 1993 declaring Ministry of Law and Justice to be classified /secret as null and void. Public Information Officer, Ministry of Law and Justice is directed to provide following requested information to the Appellant within 7 days of the receipt of this Order with intimation to this office:
Certified copy of BO/NIS forms submitted to the Finance Division by the Ministry of Law and Justice during the process of the budget for FY 2020-21.
The commission holds that as right to information in matters of public importance is a fundamental constitutional right. Article 8 of the Constitution which aims at curbing practices which thwart efforts of the citizens in the exercise of their fundamental rights and freedoms renders Cabinet Division’ notification issued on 04/04/1993 void ab initio. Furthermore, Section 25 of the Act also overrides the said notification.
This commission is of the view that the disclosure of ‘BO/NIS Forms’, once final budget has been approved, would serve public interest, as citizens would be able to know about the level of quality input by officials gone into the allocation as well as utilisation of public funds.