ISLAMABAD: A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking the details of expenses incurred by the Pakistani government on litigation for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from a United States prison.

The petitioner is a Sialkot-based lawyer who has sought the information under Article 19-A of the Constitution, which states that “every citizen shall have the right to have access to information in all matters of public importance”.

The 2017 Right of Access to Information Act was enacted to give effect to the fundamental right of access to information.

The petition stated that in 2010, a report submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Senate Standing Committee on Interior had revealed misappropriation in the Dr Aafia Siddiqui Attorney Trust Account. The report said then ambassador Hussain Haqqani had formed a committee of three individuals to ensure transparency and monitor expenditure from the account.

The committee had directed then foreign secretary Salman Bashir to conduct an internal audit of the money spent on the legal team and submit a detailed report at the next meeting. This report was never made public.

The petition maintained that the preamble of the Right of Access to Information Act clearly stated that the ”government believes in transparency and the right to have access to information to ensure that the people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have improved access to records held by the public authorities and promote the purposes of making the government more accountable to its people, of improving participation by the people in public affairs, of reducing corruption and inefficiency in government, of promoting sound economic growth of promoting good governance and respect for human rights.”

The petitioner’s request for access to the information is to verify whether $2 million from the public exchequer were used in a fair and transparent manner, which is a matter of public importance.

The petition asked the court to direct the respondent authorities – the law, foreign affairs and finance secretaries and the auditor general of Pakistan – to provide the information regarding expenses incurred on legal proceedings regarding Siddiqui.

IHC Justice Aamer Farooq after the initial hearing issued pre-admission notices to the aforementioned authorities and sought their responses. Further hearing has been adjourned until a date to be fixed by the registrar’s office.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2018