ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) has directed the Senate Secretariat to provide a copy of an inquiry report concerning its BS-20 officer who went abroad with his family to attend a conference and subsequently applied for asylum.

The order was issued on Sept 8 in an appeal filed by Sohail Abdullah against the Senate of Pakistan under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017.

The applicant had sought the final inquiry report relating to an incident during the 148th session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Geneva in March 2024. He claimed that the BS-20 officer had travelled with his family as part of the delegation and that his family members subsequently sought asylum in a European country.

The Senate Secretariat opposed disclosure, arguing that Parliament, the Senate and National Assembly secretariats were constitutional bodies protected under the Constitution and that the information could not be provided.

The Secretariat also claimed that records relating to Senate Secretariat employees were classified by the then chairman of the Senate in 2019 and the classification was clarified by the incumbent chairman in April 2025. It further argued that the matter was sub judice before the Islamabad High Court.

However, the commission held that the inquiry report sought by the applicant would not prejudice the pending proceedings before the high court.

The PIC also ruled that the chairman of the Senate was empowered to classify records, but noted that the orders cited by the Secretariat did not explicitly classify inquiries conducted against employees.

It observed that disclosure of the requested information did not outweigh the public interest and that the cited rulings did not exempt the inquiry report from disclosure.

The commission said the Senate representative had confirmed that an inquiry against the official had been finalised, although no disciplinary action had so far been taken.

Partially allowing the appeal, the PIC directed the Senate secretary to provide the inquiry report to Mr Abdullah and the commission within 10 days. The case has been adjourned until Oct 6, 2026, for implementation of the order.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2026