A newsletter containing news, views, articles, investigative stories in the field of

Right to Information

From

Around the World

Issue No: 109

E - Alert

Issue Date: 19-10-2015

Editorial:

Greetings from the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives, (CPDI).

The interplay between the forces vying for transparent and open functioning of government and those led by bureaucracy trying to perpetuate the pervasive culture of secrecy is getting interesting. This interplay is nothing new but the intensity   is quite palpable this time raising hopes of those who have always maintained that this culture of secrecy is one of the leading causes of widespread corruption and lack of public accountability in the country. There have been some excellent decisions by Supreme Court and some sporadic decisions by Ombudsman aimed at countering shenanigans of bureaucracy. However, the text countering bureaucratic pretexts and apologies for  conducting business of government in secrecy and the persistency with which it is being generated by Punjab Information Commission has force the hand of bureaucracy and compelled it to come up with all the cards it holds. It did. The case in point is recently reported story in the News International and included in this edition.

Happy reading,

CPDI

India

Report: Public Institutions Violating FoI Act

THISDAY Live

“Nor have any of the judicial institutions vested with the powers of adjudication in the protection of the Right to Information, complied with same.”.

USA

UW law student sues CIA over data on Salvadoran Army officer

The Seattle Times

A University of Washington law-school student has filed a federal Freedom of Information lawsuit alleging the Central Intelligence Agency has illegally ...

Pakistan

Government directive buries Freedom of Information law

The News International

ISLAMABAD: In a major dent to transparency and people's right to know, the federal government has almost buried the Freedom of Information law by ...

India

Teaching Muslim youths to earn rightful benefits using RTI

Times of India

... to seek RTI on minority welfare schemes of the Centre and state in a three-hour training session on the Right to Information (RTI) Act on Sunday.

USA

Obama Again Found Lacking in Open Government Efforts

GovExec.com

The report card, which includes recommendations in such areas as Freedom of Information Act responsiveness, whistleblower protections and ...

Bangladesh

Country Report: Freedom of Information in Bangladesh

Article 19

Country Report: Freedom of Information in Bangladesh ... by the Manusher Jonno Foundation, an NGO advocating for freedom of information In 2008, ...

India

7 funny reasons for which Right To Information petitions were filed

India Today

RTI is the Right to Information Act of the Parliament of India under which citizens have right to information in a practical regime. But this right is

Pakistan

Right to information law 'bitter pill for the corrupt'

The Express Tribune

Despite opposition from several elements, the Right to Information Act is there to stay in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, KP Information Commissioner Abdul ...

Sri Lanka

The Right to Information Act to be presented in Parliament before the end of this month.

SLBC

Speaker of the Parliament Karu Jayasuriya stated that he believes that the Right to Information Act can be presented to Parliament before the end of ...

Pakistan

Right to information law 'bitter pill for the corrupt'

The Express Tribune

Despite opposition from several elements, the Right to Information Act is there to stay in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, KP Information Commissioner Abdul ...

Transparency and Right to Information Program
-------------------------------------------- 
Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives, Pakistan (CPDI-Pakistan)
Tel: +92 (0) 51-2375158-9; 4319430
URL: www.cpdi-pakistan.org