RIGHT TO INFORMATION LAWS At their core, right to information laws, whether domestic, international or foreign, reflect the idea that government is meant to serve the people. It is a
PILAP wrote an RTI request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs inquiring into the recommendations given to the provinces for the issuance of Houbara Bustard hunting licenses. The Ministry did not respond to our request and upon appeal to the Pakistan Information Commission, it alleged that the requested information was confidential as it could have adverse consequences on Pakistan’s international relations with the Middle Eastern countries whose citizens had been issued the licenses. PILAP disagreed and rebutted by saying that the requested information concerned only the protection and conservation of a bird species that has been categorized as being threatened with extinction. PIC has not issued a new order in the case.