Sindh Information Commission Orders Arts Council Karachi to Release Records
— October 28, 2024
KARACHI (AIA) The Sindh Information Commission has directed the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi to release all requested information to petitioner Mubashir Mir, president of The Arts Forum, within two weeks.
Mubashir Mir initially requested information from the Arts Council’s Executive Director on June 11, 2024, seeking certified records from general body meetings (2001–2023), amended by-laws, a complete list of members with details on their contributions to the arts, membership information for deceased members whose memberships were reassigned, and a list of salaried employees. After receiving no response, Mir submitted a follow-up request on July 2, 2024, and ultimately escalated the matter to the Sindh Information Commission.
In response, Chief Information Commissioner Dr. Javed Ali issued a notice to the Arts Council’s Executive Director on September 23. After the director failed to appear, the Commission issued a second notice for October 8, to which Arts Council representative Shakeel Khan responded, arguing that the Arts Council is not a “public body” and is thus exempt from the Right to Information Act.
However, Chief Information Commissioner Dr. Javed Ali and Information Commissioner Shahid Abbas Jatoi rejected this argument, noting that as the Arts Council receives annual funding from the Government of Sindh, it is bound by the Sindh Information Act to provide transparency.
The Commission has now ordered the Arts Council to supply Mir with the requested information, including certified records of general body decisions, amended by-laws, a full list of members and salaried employees, and specific details regarding membership transfers for deceased members.