PESHAWAR, Nov 30: Participants of a consultative meeting of media group on freshly enacted Right to Information Act, 2013, here on Saturday urged the provincial government to implement the law at the earliest.

The meeting also stressed the need for carrying out media campaign to create awareness among the people at grass-root level so they could take advantage of the law and get required information.

The consultative meeting was arranged by Development, Environment, Legal Aid, Technical Support and Advocacy Association (DELTA), at Peshawar Press Club.

The meeting was attended by members of the media group and other journalists.

The participants described the RTI Act as good piece oflegislation, but, for getting maximum benefits from it, they called for conducting a campaign both in the print and electronic media for creation of awareness among the people.

They further said that under article 19-A of the constitution it was the fundamental right of all citizens to have access to information at federal and provincial levels.

They termed the promulgated Right to Information Act as a bold step of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government towards bringing transparency to the province.

The meeting recommended that a representative from the media should also be made member of the commission to be constituted under the act as the media was at the forefront in highlighting issues regarding corruption.

The speakers said courts should not be exempted fromapplication of the law as it was necessary that the judiciary, instead of being treated as `sacred cow`, should also be made accountable as per international practice.

They said an information cell should be created within the courts to provide information through an information officer deputed to the cell by the government.

Information pertaining tomonetary matters of the judiciary cannot be sought from the courts, but from the law department, they maintained.

They further said that the act should also be copied and enacted at national level through national legislation.

Similarly, the rights provided under the law should also be provided to the residents of Fata.