The Pakistan Information Commission has directed the National Assembly Secretariat to disclose full details of the money spent on parliamentary committees, including travel allowances, perks and privileges paid to their chairpersons and members.
The order came on an appeal filed by journalist Saddia Mazhar. Information Commissioner Ijaz Hassan Awan and Chief Information Commissioner Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui issued the directive after the Secretariat failed to answer her questions in full.
The Commission has told the National Assembly Secretary to provide clear and specific replies to 13 outstanding questions under the Right of Access to Information Act 2017 within 10 days. It has fixed November 19 for proceedings to check whether the Secretariat has complied.
What the journalist asked for
Mazhar filed her information request on June 21. She sought details about the working and finances of parliamentary committees from January 2025 onwards.
Her request covered the lists of standing committees and subcommittees, the number of meetings each held, the total spending on those meetings, and the travel allowances paid to committee members and chairpersons. She also asked for complete details of the perks, privileges and other payments made to lawmakers who serve on these committees.
The Secretariat did not give a satisfactory reply, so she filed an appeal with the Commission on July 5. National Assembly Litigation Officer Sehrish Mushtaq represented the Secretariat during the proceedings.
The Secretariat later sent replies, which were shared with the applicant. Mazhar told the Commission that only the first question, about the list of standing committees, had been answered. The other 13 questions remained unanswered.
Why the Pakistan Information Commission rejected the reply
The Commission examined the replies and the information published on the National Assembly website. It accepted that a large amount of parliamentary information is already online. Even so, it found that the published material did not answer the specific questions Mazhar had raised.
“The information provided does not meet the specific requirements set out in the information request,” the Commission observed. It stressed that public bodies must give objective and specific replies under the RTI Act, even where related information is already available online.
The Commission has now directed the National Assembly Secretary to provide complete and specific answers to questions two to 14 within 10 days. The compliance hearing on November 19 will review what the Secretariat produces.
What the RTI Act says
The Right of Access to Information Act 2017 gives every citizen of Pakistan the right to seek records from public bodies. Under Section 11 of the Act, any written request that identifies the information sought in enough detail for the public body to find it, and that includes a complete address and contact details, must be treated as a request.
The Act also states that information about licences, allotments and other benefits, privileges, contracts and agreements made by a public body is publicly disclosable. That provision sits at the heart of this case, since committee perks and allowances are benefits paid from public funds.
Why committee spending matters
Standing committees do much of the National Assembly’s detailed work. They examine bills, question ministries and review public spending before matters reach the floor of the House. Their members travel for meetings, hearings and visits, and the cost comes from the public purse.
For that reason, the figures Mazhar sought go beyond routine paperwork. They would show how much the committee system costs, how often committees meet, and what individual lawmakers receive for serving on them. Until now, those numbers have not been published in the form she requested.
The case also tests how far the RTI Act reaches inside Parliament. Public bodies often point to information already on their websites when they receive requests. The Commission has now made it plain that a general publication does not replace a specific answer.
What happens next
The National Assembly Secretariat has 10 days to send its replies. The Commission will then hold implementation proceedings on November 19 to review compliance with the directive.
If the Secretariat provides the figures, the public will get its first detailed look at committee spending since January 2025. If it does not, the Commission can press the matter further under the Act.
The case also fits a wider pattern of lawmakers declaring their assets under public scrutiny, of the Election Commission taking notice of alleged code violations in the run-up to by-elections, and of regulators such as the SECP demanding disclosures in an IPO probe. Transparency rules are being tested on several fronts at once, and the November 19 hearing will be the next test for the National Assembly.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Pakistan Information Commission order?
It ordered the National Assembly Secretariat to give clear and specific answers to 13 questions about committee spending, travel allowances, perks and privileges within 10 days.
Who filed the appeal?
Journalist Saddia Mazhar filed the appeal after her information request of June 21 did not receive a satisfactory reply. She had asked for committee details from January 2025 onwards.
When will compliance be reviewed?
The Commission has fixed November 19 for implementation proceedings to review whether the Secretariat has complied with the directive.
What does the RTI Act say about such information?
Under the Right of Access to Information Act 2017, any citizen can seek records from a public body, and information about benefits, privileges, contracts and agreements made by a public body is publicly disclosable.
