Punjab University: ASA Secretary Raises Concern Over Non-Provision of Information Under RTI Requests

lahore (Pakistan News Online) Academic Staff Association (ASA) Secretary of Punjab University, Professor Dr Kamran Abid, has expressed serious concern over the university administration’s failure to provide information sought under the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013, despite the expiry of the prescribed 14-day legal period.

According to Dr Kamran Abid, several Right to Information (RTI) applications were submitted seeking important information regarding the use of public funds, expenditures, and financial and administrative decisions of the university administration.

The requested records also included details of official facilities available to the vice chancellor, procurement, financial and administrative approvals, and other expenditures.

He said that despite the expiry of the statutory deadline, repeated reminders and personal follow-ups, the requested information had still not been provided.

Dr Kamran Abid said the continued failure to provide the information was particularly concerning because the law requires the Public Information Officer (PIO) to process RTI applications independently and in accordance with the law and respond within the prescribed period.

He said that if the relevant records had been properly compiled, preserved and maintained in accordance with rules and regulations, there should be no reasonable justification for withholding them beyond the statutory deadline.

According to him, such a situation could also raise serious questions about the legality and credibility of decisions and actions taken by the vice chancellor in his official capacity.

Professor Dr Kamran Abid clarified that the purpose of seeking the information was not to pre-emptively accuse any individual of corruption or unlawful conduct, but to establish the facts on the basis of official documentary records.

He stressed that access to information is a legal and constitutional right of every citizen and cannot be made subject to the discretion of an official whose conduct or decisions are themselves the subject of the information sought.