Fafen calls for reforms to strengthen Balochistan RTI law

ISLAMABAD: Five years after the passage of the Balochistan Right to Information Act, 2021, the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) has called for legislative changes to address what it described as shortcomings in enforcement, institutional autonomy and accountability.

In a policy brief titled From Enactment to Enforcement: Strengthening Balochistan’s Right to Information Act to Counter Disinformation, Fafen urged the Balochistan Assembly and the provincial government to amend the law to ensure effective implementation of the right guaranteed under Article 19A of the Constitution.

The brief was issued under Fafen’s campaign, Countering Disinformation through Reliable Government Information, which maintains that the proactive, accessible and verifiable publication of official information is a more effective way to address disinformation than punitive regulation.

Concerns over implementation gaps

Fafen said the law offers a solid statutory foundation and uses broad definitions for information and public body. However, it said the law’s impact has been constrained by ambiguities in definitions, limited disclosure obligations, weak penalties for non-compliance, delays in making the Balochistan Information Commission operational, insufficient inspection powers and the commission’s financial reliance on the government.

To broaden access, the organisation proposed expanding the definitions of applicant and public body so that legal persons registered in the country are included, along with private institutions that receive public funds, subsidies, tax concessions or rebates. It also recommended clearly defining the right to information and setting up an official information web portal.

Recommendations for oversight and protection

Fafen further said public bodies should be required to publish details of decision-making processes, the basis for major decisions and the channels available for public participation. It also proposed that annual compliance reports be submitted not only to the Information Commission but also to the speaker of the provincial assembly to enable legislative oversight.

The organisation also recommended legal protection for whistleblowers who, in good faith, disclose evidence of corruption, wrongdoing, maladministration or non-compliance with the law.