Public Bodies Cannot Demand CNIC for RTI Requests: PIC

News Desk

Islamabad: In a significant move to protect citizens’ right to access public information, the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) has ruled that government departments cannot demand a copy of the Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) from citizens submitting requests under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017.

In a recent verdict, the Commission rejected an objection raised by a public body that claimed a citizen had failed to establish Pakistani citizenship by not attaching a CNIC copy with their information request. The Commission categorically stated that the law does not require citizens to provide a CNIC copy in order to seek public records.

“If the public body believes the requester is not a citizen of Pakistan, the burden of proof lies on them to establish that claim,” the PIC stated in its decision. “No such evidence has been provided in this case; therefore, the objection is overruled.”

The case involved a citizen’s request submitted to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), seeking details on the total number of sanctioned posts from Basic Pay Scale (BPS) 1 to 22, as well as a list of employees recruited under the Balochistan quota. The requested information included designations, dates of appointment, and the methods of recruitment used.

While the Commission agreed that some data—such as employees’ father’s names, current postings, and copies of domicile certificates—constitute personal information and are protected under privacy laws, it ruled that the rest of the requested information is a matter of public record and must be disclosed.

Citing Section 5(1)(a) of the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017, the Commission emphasized that public bodies are legally obligated to proactively publish structural details, including the number and status of sanctioned posts.

The Commission partially allowed the citizen’s appeal and directed the Secretary (Compliance) / Designated Officer / Public Information Officer at FBR to provide the requested information—excluding any personal data—to both the appellant and the Commission within 10 days.

The ruling is expected to strengthen the implementation of Pakistan’s access to information law and ensure fewer bureaucratic hurdles for citizens seeking transparency and accountability from public institutions.