RIGHT TO INFORMATION: A STEP TOWARDS GOOD GOVERNANCE IN PAKISTAN
Abstract
With the passage of
time majority of the states have changed their political system from other
kinds to democratic system, because democracy is the only political system
which cares for the public opinion. In democracy, the people have right to
vote, through which they elect their choice of representatives directly or
indirectly. It is the only system for which the term good governance is being used.
The term good governance can be used for the government which protects the
rights of the people and provide them equal opportunities, care for public opinion,
whose policies are clear and crystal before the common peoples and where no
underhand game is being played. That’s why it is known as a government which is
participatory, accountable and transparent, where all the citizens are equal
before the law. With the passage of time the laws are made to make the
government more accountable and its policies transparent, for this purpose
majority of the states have incorporated the right to information in their
constitution. Through this right the people can have access to public related
information, which enable the peoples to keep an eye on government, in result
the corruption can be decreased and it will create more accountable government.
Moreover, it will create hindrances in the way of abuse of power and
corruption. Pakistan is a democratic state and there is a separate chapter of
fundamental rights in the constitution of Pakistan, in April 2010 through
eighteenth amendment article 19-A was incorporated in the 1973 constitution of
Pakistan regarding right to information aiming to create more accountable,
transparent and participatory system. This research paper is an attempt to analyze
that how right to information can be a step towards good governance in
Pakistan.
Keywords
References
- Banisar, D. (2011). The Right to Information and Privacy: Balancing Rights and Managing Conflicts. Washington DC: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank. Center for Peace and Development Initiatives. (2016). Country Briefing Paper: Right to Information Legislation in Pakistan. Islamabad: Center for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI). Chambers, P., & Croissant, A. (Eds.). (2010). Democracy under Stress: Civil-Military Relations in South and Southeast Asia. Bangkok, Thailand: institute of Security and International Studies, Chulalongkorn University. Gunatilleke, G. (2014). Right to Information: A Guide for Advocates. Colombo: Sri Lanka Press Institute. Retrieved from http://www.slpi.lk Haq, M. U. (2010). Political Science: Theory and Practice. Lahore: Bookland. Hook, S. V. (2011). Democracy. North Mankato: ABDO Publishing Company. Jain, A. (2012). Good Governance and Right to Information: A Perspective. The Indian Law Institute, 54(4), 506-519. Retrieved from www.ili.ac.in Kamran, T. (2008). Democracy and Governance in Pakistan. Lahore: South Asia Partnership-Pakistan. Khan, Z. (2013). Operationalizing Article 19-A Right to Information in Pakistan. Islamabad: Center for Civic Educaiton Pakistan. pandey, S. K., & Mishra, A. (2016). Right to Information and Good Governance in India. International Journal of Law and Legal Jurisprudence Studie, 3(2), 362-369. Saif-ul-Haq, M. M. (2010). Compendium of Political Science. Lahore: Caravan Book House. Shapiro, I. (2003). The Moral Foundaiton of Politics. New Haven, CT: Yale university Press. Singh, R. K. (2014, December). Right to Information: The Basic Need of Democracy. Journal of Education & Social Policy, 1(2), 86-96. Retrieved from www.jespnet.com United Cities and Local Governments. (2009). Decentralization and local democracy in the world. Barcelona: World Bank and United Cities and Local Governments. Wolf, S. O., & Kane, S. (2010). Democratic Ambitions under Praetorlan Stress-Civil Military Relations in Pakistan. In P. Chambers, & A. Croissant (Eds.), Democracy under Stress: Civil-Military Relations in South and Southeast Asia (pp. 171-200). Bangkok, Thailand: Institute of Security and International Studies, Chulalongkorn University.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
-
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
December 27, 2017
Submission Date
September 24, 2017
Acceptance Date
November 13, 2017
Published in Issue
Year 2017 Volume: 3 Number: 9