KABUL (Pajhwok): The Access to Information Commission has been converted into a department of the Information and Cultural ministry, the access to information law had been sent to the Acting Prime Minister Office for approval or amendment and the department head said efforts were underway to enable public access to information through a proper framework.
The Access to Information Commission had started work as an independent Commission back in 2018. Pajhwok Afghan News conducted an inclusive interview with Hidaytullah Hidayat, head of the Access to Information Department.
Complete Interview:
Pajhwok: If we can start from here that what changed came in the structure of the Access to Information Commission?
Hidayat: In the past this commission was independent but now it is part of the Information Ministry.
Pajhwok: What changes had occurred in the responsibilities and power of the commission after it became part of the ministry?
Hidayat: downsize had happened in the commission, in the past 70 people worked in the commission but now 18 people are working. For the purpose of change or amendment the law had been sent to the acting Prime Minister’s office.
Pajhwok: It means former law of the access to information was no more enforced, are you aware what amendments would come in the law.
Hidayat: No it is not enforced, it had been sent for amendment, but the fact that what amendments would come is not clear, work is underway on the access to information law like other laws, but if it remained as part of the information ministry then a big change may happened into the law.
Pajhwok: What is your view regarding media, civil society members and common people’s access to information?
Hidayat: It is the right of people to get access to information, there is need for a proper channel or a proper framework through which information should be disseminated to the masses.
Pajhwok: Your earlier said that the access to information law was not enforced then through which law the access to information is being handled now
Hidayat: Information are still disseminated but after regime change the method had been changed and is not like it was in the past, but still work in underway to properly organized a method for the access to information.
Pajhwok: There was a specific form existed in the government institutions for access to information, does it exist now? If it is not available than how people and media access information, please explain it?
Hidayat: Our procedure in this regard is new, we work on the training of individuals wo will dissiminate information to the people. We are meeting them and when they are ready to provide information to the masses then they will provide information to the people through the previous framework, there is no objection on it.
Pajhwok: Does government institutions are obliged to disseminate information among people.
Hidayat: Yes, government institutions are compelled to provide information to the people, work that Islamic Emirate has started is huge and bigger compared to the past, it was the right of the people to get information about these activities and get informed.
Pajhwok: In the past there was a member of the access to information commission besides the spokesperson of that particular government institution, what do you consider for the re-activation of this type of system?
Hidayat: If we don’t have a point person in a government institution then it is clearly problematic. Now when we meet government institutions and have meeting with them one of our demand is that they should keep this section active and urge those institutions to have these section active.
Pajhwok: In the past there was a website through which media and people have had access to information, what plan do you have for the re-activation of this page?
Hidayat: The framework of that webpage was still available and questions referred to point person. Until there is no proper framework the re-activation of that page is a futile effort. Everything is ready for the activation of the website we only need a proper mindset and when we have it we will launch the site
Pajhwok: there was a specific portion for complain registration in that website, now that the website is not active how could a media outlet register it’s complain?
Hidayat: So far this Department was not active, now we are here, talking to you practically, we are trying to activate whatsapp groups, visit government institutions and talk to them, we will work on the most suitable way to ensure public access to information.
Pajhwok: Still there are complains that journalists and people are not provided access to information, Do you monitor government institutions?
Hidayat: We have a proper mechanism for monitoring, we have a meeting with all the officials and spokespersons of government institutions, when this meeting is completed we can have a proper mechanism in this regard.
Pajhwok: What would you talk in that meeting?
Hidayat: We would urge spokesperson and officials to provide information to the masses which is there right in time.
Pajhwok: In the past some local and international institutions provided support to this commission, still there need for support and in which area
Hidayat: There would be need for support but still we have not contacted anyone for support and in the future we may
Pajhwok: Fake news generated when there is no access to information, what do you think fake news had increased or decreased.
Hidayat: It is natural when reality is hidden then fake news and propaganda disseminates and we often told spokesperson to inform people from the facts and realities. Work is ongoing and it was the right of the people to know about it.
Pajhwok: What do you think in the future the powers of the access to information commission may increase and it would be converted into a Commission?
Hidayat: It belongs to our performance, still our work is fresh and it will be made clear in the future that how much manpower do we need what resources do we get and how much work can we do with resource we get
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