Defense ministry asked to respond to requests for income, assets data of Pakistani military officers

ISLAMABAD: In a landmark notice, the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) has asked the defense ministry to respond to citizens’ requests to provide information about the income, taxes, assets, perks, privileges, retirement benefits and plots allotted to officers of the armed forces.
The commission issued the notice to the defense ministry in response to requests by the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) and concerned citizens seeking income and assets data about the army chief and all major and lieutenant generals and brigadiers of the armed forces; the air chief, air marshals, air vice marshals and commodores of the airforce; and the admiral, vice admiral, rear admirals and commodores of the navy.
“The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) has directed the Ministry of Defense (MoD) to respond to requests filed by members of the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) and other pro-democracy citizens, seeking information about the income, income tax, assets, perks, privileges, post retirement benefits and plots alloted to general officers of the defense forces,” WAF said in a statement. “The PIC directed the MoD’s public information officer to comply with Rule 3 of the Right of Access to Information Rules, 2019, collect and provide the requested information to the applicants within 10 working days.”
In its order to the defense ministry, PIC said: “Please note that it is the responsibility of the designated Public Information Officer to respond to requests filed by citizens, notices of the commission and collect the requested information from other officers under Rule 3 of the Right of Access to Information Rules 2019.”
“You are directed to submit response to the commission within 10 working days of the receipt of this notice in accordance with the provisions of the Right of Access to Information Act 2017,”
In its statement, WAF listed the information that had been requested: “Their income and assets and the income and assets of their spouses and children. Their perks and privileges. Their Pension and post-retirement benefits. Income Tax paid by them during the financial years 2017-18, 2018-19 & 2019-20 5. Plots allotted in any scheme administered by the government or a state owned or controlled statutory body, foundation, company or agency received by them during the last five years.”
“WAF believes public and national interest require that this information be disclosed to affirm public faith in state institutions so the citizenry has reason to believe that the accountability agenda in today’s Pakistan is not selective, and that a uniform standard exists and is applicable to all, without fear or favor,” a statement said.
Similar right to information requests pertaining to the higher judiciary were filed in August 2020, responses to which are still awaited, WAF said.