The Right to Information (RTI) Bill 2016 has been unanimously adopted by the members of Pakistan Senate select committee.
Members of the Senate select committee on Tuesday unanimously adopted all amendments and recommendations of the bill after reviewing it clause-by-clause.
The existing right to information law at the federal level, the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002, will get replaced by the RTI Bill 2016.
People of Pakistan will now be able to get access to information about the activities of the government as the newly-adopted law recognises citizens' right to know under the Constitution.
The bill has ensured that information is given in written on missing persons by the concerned authority within three days of a request for information being filed, reports the Dawn.
There is also a provision for the protection of whistleblowers including those from security institutions in the bill.
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The RTI requests would be heard by a three-member commission with the authority to direct public bodies to disclose information and provide records.
The members to the commission will be appointed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The commission is likely to one member of civil society, one from the bureaucracy, and one from the judiciary.
Authority to remove the members of the commission has been given to the standing committee of the Senate and National Assembly.
The Bill will be presented to parliament for further discussions.
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