Home › MCQs › Journalism / Mass Communication › Question #6409
Back to Questions
Journalism / Mass Communication QUESTION #6409
Question 1
The textbook describes specific laws enacted in Pakistan and India regarding freedom of information. Under the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002 (Pakistan), how many days does a government body have to respond to an information request, and which bodies does it apply to?
  • 7 days; all public and private bodies including corporations
  • 21 days; public bodies of the federal government (ministries, departments, boards, councils, courts, tribunals) — but NOT government-owned corporations or provincial governments✔️
  • 30 days; only federal ministries
  • 48 hours; all government bodies in case of information concerning liberty and life
Correct Answer Explanation

The textbook provides specific details about Pakistan's freedom of information framework:

  • President Pervez Musharraf promulgated the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002 in October 2002
  • Response timeframe: Government bodies must respond within 21 days
  • Applicable bodies: Federal government bodies including ministries, departments, boards, councils, courts, and tribunals
  • Excluded: Government-owned corporations and provincial governments — significant gaps in coverage

Contrast this with India's Right to Information Act (2005): response required within 30 days (or 48 hours for matters concerning life and liberty). The textbook is critical of Pakistan's ordinance, noting that “large amounts of information are also not subject to disclosure under the ordinance, largely undermining the public's right to know” and that its restrictive list of disclosable records further limits its effectiveness. This legal knowledge is essential for journalism students understanding press freedom frameworks.