[Ip-health] National Consultation on Freedom of Information Blocked

[CRCP]

Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) laments that the
government cancelled the National Consultation that had to be held today
at a local hotel to deliberate on People-centric Legislation with
special reference to Governance, Consumer Protection and Freedom of
Information in Pakistan. It said in a statement that the government
mis-interpreted citizens’ activity as a political activity and blocked
an ongoing process to gain public consensus on freedom of information
that cross-cuts all other reforms in the sphere of good governance.

29 political parties and 12 representatives of bar councils and
associations had gathered as speakers and members of NGOs, diplomatic
and academic community participated here in the national consultation to
discuss Model freedom of Information Act prepared by CRCP.

CRCP has been consulting various opinion makers on the freedom of
information for the last three years. It has already presented a Model
Freedom of Information Act last year before the government. “We think it
a pre-requisite that such an act is reviewed, commented and owned by the
civil society, political parties, bar councils, journalist community and
other opinion making institutions of the country. It is required that
there exists an interface among these actors to make freedom of
information a law of the day.” it was added.

CRCP views today’s cancellation of the national consultation contrary to
attaining a national consensus on legislation on freedom of information
and hopes that citizens’ efforts will be encouraged rather than been
blocked because of a charged political atmosphere prevailing in the
country.

We thank all friends who joined us in our initiative on Freedom of
Information. We expect the same in future and excuse for inconvenience
to all those who came to participate in today’s event. But we are
positive that CRCP gets along its proactive mobilization on consumer
issues, generally, and the Freedom of Information, in particular, as we
think that legislation on Freedom of information is a working hub that
would host many reforms to work in its letter and spirit in the country.
Thanks.

Mian Abrar Hafeez
Secretary General