A two-day seminar aimed at equipping journalists with tools for investigative reporting through the Right to Information (RTI) laws concluded on Sunday.

Organised by the Friedrich Nauman Foundation for Freedom (FNF-Pakistan), the event brought together over 30 journalists, rights activists, and students to explore how RTI can strengthen journalism and counter the rising threat of fake news.

Muhammad Anwar - Head of Programs and Administration at FNF-Pakistan - highlighted the pivotal role of RTI in fostering investigative journalism.

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"Journalists can enhance the credibility of their stories through the use of RTI laws," he said. "This contributes to promoting transparency in governance and helps combat misinformation."

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Syed Raza Ali, Program Manager at FNF-Pakistan, delved into the legislative framework governing access to information in Pakistan. "Article 19A of the Constitution guarantees the right to information, and Pakistan currently has five RTI laws," he explained.

He emphasized that as the "fourth pillar" of democracy, journalists are responsible for using RTI to investigate and report on matters of public interest.

Ali further added that under the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013, provincial public bodies are obligated to provide requested information within 14 working days.

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Failure to comply can lead to complaints being lodged with the Punjab Information Commission, an independent appellate authority empowered to penalize officials obstructing information flow.

Highlighting the need for critical thinking, Ubaid Ur Rehman, a rights activist, called on journalists to strengthen their fact-checking skills.

"With the rise of the internet and artificial intelligence, the risks of disinformation are greater than ever. Journalists must adhere to professional standards and ethics to prevent the spread of unchecked information," he remarked.

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Saeed Akhtar Ansari, former Information Commissioner at the Punjab Information Commission, urged journalists to actively use their right of access to information to investigate stories.

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Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz - (PML-N) MPA Uzma Kardar in her concluding remarks, encouraged reporters to leverage RTI as a tool for combating fake news.

Participants lauded FNF-Pakistan for organizing the seminar and called for more such sessions to be held by journalists' organizations to promote investigative journalism, particularly for young professionals entering the field.