Access to information bill signed into law

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani signed the access to information into law on Sunday, months after it was approved by both houses of parliament.

The national TV showed the president signing the bill in the presence of Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and other senior officials.

The upper house (Meshrano Jirga) approved on July 22 the Access to Information Bill without any amendment to the version that was passed by Wolesi Jirga on June 30.

The Ministry of Justice sent the draft law to the lower house for approval. After its endorsement by the lower house, the legislative measure was referred to the Senate.

The law requires government institutions and private organisations to grant the press access to information for public good. 

Ghani said the law would be entered into the official gazette and enforced forthwith. The presidential approval came after a string of calls from journalist associations and civil society leaders.      

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