The Pakistan Information Commission has ruled against a National Assembly speaker's decision to classify certain employee records, stating that it cannot restrict citizens' right to information without providing reasons for why disclosure would cause harm. The commission dismissed two appeals filed by journalist Saddia Mazhar and ordered the NA Secretariat to provide her with specific records, including appointment and promotion notifications already published in the official Gazette. The PIC found that the speaker's ruling did not meet the legal criteria required for classification under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017. According to the commission, information already publicly available cannot be withheld from citizens requesting it under the RTI Act.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
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Story summary
The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) ruled that the National Assembly Speaker's decision to classify certain employee records cannot restrict citizens' right to information unless it provides a justification showing that disclosing the information would cause harm. The ruling came in response to two appeals filed by journalist Saddia Mazhar against the NA Secretariat, which had argued that minutes of meetings and other official documents were classified under the speaker's October 4, 2022, ruling. The PIC ordered the NA deputy secretary or a designated officer to provide a link to available information on the secretariat's website and certified copies of requested records within 10 days. The commission stated that the speaker's power to classify records is subject to statutory requirements under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017. This ruling is significant because it ensures that citizens can access information about government employees, including their parent departments, grades, appointment dates, and promotions, as long as there are no valid reasons for withholding the information. The PIC's decision underscores the importance of transparency in government operations. Saddia Mazhar had sought information on officers who joined the NA Secretariat on deputation from January 2018 onwards.
Written for “Pakistan Information Commission Ruling” on 2026-09-07,
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Leaning score -0.60 for article 6039 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-07
The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) has ruled that the National Assembly speaker’s decision to classify certain records cannot restrict citizens’ right to information (RTI) unless the ruling gives reasons showing that the harm from disclosure outweighs the public interest.
asserted
harm → rule → interest
The PIC issued the ruling while deciding two appeals filed by journalist Saddia Mazhar against the NA Secretariat.
asserted
PIC → issue → Secretariat
One of the appeals sought information about officers who had joined the NA Secretariat on deputation from January 2018 onwards, including their parent departments, grades, appointment dates, promotions and records relating to their induction into the secretariat.
asserted
who → seek → secretariat
The NA Secretariat had argued that minutes of meetings, official file notes and recommendations relating to the employees had been classified under the speaker’s ruling of Oct 4, 2022, issued under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.
asserted
minutes → argue → Assembly
The speaker’s ruling had declared various records, including committee minutes, briefing material, working papers and certain personal records of employees, as classified for the purposes of the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017.
asserted
ruling → declare → Act
The PIC held that the speaker, being the head of the National Assembly Secretariat, could exercise the powers under Section 7(f) of the Right of Access to Information Act, despite the provision specifically referring to the minister-in-charge of a public body.
However, the PIC stressed that such power was subject to the statutory requirements of the law.
uncertain
power → hold → law
“[The] ruling does not contain reasons as to why the harm from disclosure of information outweighs the public interest,” the PIC observed, concluding that it therefore could not operate to classify the records.
uncertain
it → contain → records
It further held that the speaker’s ruling was neither prospectively nor retrospectively operative because it failed to meet the legal criteria required for classification under Section 7(f) of the Act.
asserted
it → hold → Act
Regarding the employees’ records sought by the applicant, it noted that appointment and promotion notifications were already published in the official Gazette.
asserted
notifications → regard → Gazette
It therefore found no legal basis for withholding the information.
asserted
It → find → information
The PIC also dismissed the secretariat’s preliminary objections regarding the non-provision of a copy of the applicant’s computerised national identity card (CNIC) and her non-appearance in person, declaring both grounds legally unsustainable under the Act.
asserted
grounds → dismiss → Act
It noted that information already published in the official Gazette or otherwise publicly accessible cannot be withheld.
asserted
information → note → Gazette
The commission directed the NA’s deputy secretary, or a designated officer, to provide the applicant with a specific link to information available on the secretariat’s website and furnish certified copies of the remaining requested information, including Gazette-notified records, within 10 days of receiving the order.
asserted
commission → direct → order
The ruling also emphasised that the 2017 RTI Act takes precedence over inconsistent provisions contained in other laws under Section 25 of the Act.
asserted
Act → emphasise → Act
In a 2025 policy brief, the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) noted that the RTI regime in Pakistan was stifled by institutional inertia and deep-rooted secrecy norms despite advanced legal provisions.
asserted
regime → note → provisions
It had called for comprehensive legal reforms to strengthen the implementation of the RTI law.
asserted
It → call → law
