- The direction issued in the case of Azmat Khan v. State Bank of Pakistan.
- PIC rejected SBP’s appeal, arguing that there were no valid reasons.
- SBP’s legal team is awaiting formal orders from the PIC regarding disclosure.
LAHORE: The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) on Saturday directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to release a list of employees who hold dual citizenship or are married to foreign nationals, within 10 days, in accordance with the Right to Information Act. 2017, News I mentioned.
In the case of Azmat Khan v. State Bank of Pakistan, the Public Integrity Commission ordered the Governor of the Central Bank to provide this information and the additional information requested.
Chief Information Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui and Information Commissioner Ijaz Hasan Awan noted that the petitioner Azmat Khan had sought details of SBP officials, employees and affiliates of local or international NGOs, community development organizations or non-profit organisations.
The petitioner has also sought details of action taken by SBP against employees who hold dual nationality, are married to citizens of other countries or provide consultations to NGOs and international institutions.
The information sought by the petitioner is a public record and no exemption can be granted to the central bank on its disclosure under the Right to Information Act, the Chief Information Commissioner said.
In its response, SBP informed the Committee that the said information does not fall under the Right to Information Act. The commissioner said that it is the authority of the committee that decides this matter, not the State Bank.
The commission said that the State Bank had filed a review appeal against the decision to disclose the information, arguing that they had not been heard in the case.
The BSP also took a stand on appeal in a similar case – Rana Abrar v. State Bank of Pakistan – The Information Commission issued orders to provide information, but the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the commission’s orders based on the BSP’s admission.
Regarding the IRS claims that they were not heard in the case, the authority said that notices were issued to them and the decision announced after they did not appear.
The Commission also said that the second justification given by SBP that the IHC had issued any stay order was incorrect.
The committee said that this decision was not appealed by the State Bank before the Supreme Court, adding that the positions taken by the State Bank in the review appeal had been rejected.
SBP Information Officer and Legal Director Khawar Rana said they are yet to receive the committee’s orders.