NAI wants info law approved before polls

KABUL): A media advocacy organisation, NAI, on Tuesday asked the government to send forthwith a draft law on access to information to the parliament for approval before the April 5 elections.

Addressing a press conference in Kabul, NAI chief Sadiqullah Tawhidi said the draft law had already been approved by the Cabinet and should be sent to the parliament without further delay.

 “Approving the draft is very important for access to information about the election affairs and should be approved before the winter recess ends,” he said.

He said the draft once approved would make government offices duty-bound to share information with journalists.

Tawhidi said the Cabinet approved the draft last month and created a three member commission to edit some materials of the law, but the commission was yet to do its job for unknown reasons.

He said the delaying tactics were perhaps aimed at depriving journalists of access to important information about the elections, urging the Parliament to pay attention to the issue.

Tawhidi also asked media outlets and journalists to remain neutral during the elections, saying siding with candidates, violating laws and ignoring professionalism could create more problems.

He also condemned an attack on a private radio station in eastern Nangarhar, saying it was unfortunate that violence against journalists could not be decreased, but had further increased.

mds/ma

Visits: 2