ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended the Pakistan Information Commission’s (PIC) order, which directed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to disclose financial details of national cricketers, including their salaries, match fees, central contracts, allowances, budgetary allocations and other monetary benefits, until the next hearing.
Chief Justice, Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar issued the interim order while hearing the petitions filed by the PCB challenging the PIC’s July 9 decision under right to access information act.
The court issued notices to the PIC and respondent Kashif Shehzad Awan, seeking their replies on next date.
Representing the PCB, Advocate Kashif Malik argued that the information sought was not limited to institutional expenditure but also included the personal financial details of individual players and confidential contractual agreements. After hearing the preliminary arguments, the court suspended the operation of the PIC order until the next hearing and adjourned further proceedings.
The PCB pleaded that disclosure of confidential remuneration structures and contractual terms would prejudice its commercial interests and contractual negotiations.
The board also sought interim relief, arguing that once confidential contractual and personal financial information entered the public domain, the resulting prejudice to its commercial interests, contractual relationships and the privacy rights of third parties would be irreversible.
