Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab chief secretary on Saturday informed the Supreme Court (SC) that Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Yawar Ali has been provided a government vehicle worth Rs 24 million.

The bench resumed the hearing of a suo motu taken over government officials using luxury vehicles. When Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar asked about the luxuries provided to Justice Yawar, the secretary informed him that the said vehicle is also being converted into a bullet-proof one. “How can I take steps regarding others if I don’t clean my own institution?” he questioned.

“Different institutions own luxury cars and the relevant boards take the decisions of providing the said vehicles,” the secretary informed the bench when questioned who approves the vehicles’ deployment. “Call the boards and bureaucrats working in the companies … they should be prepared to return the excess amount taken for such luxuries,” the top judge remarked.

The secretary then informed the court that two judges of the high courts have also been given bulletproof vehicles. “According to the law, high court’s CJ is allowed to keep 1800cc car but not bulletproof,” he informed the bench. The CJP then sought details of the number of government officers who possess Land Cruisers.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan had on Monday directed the provincial police chiefs to ensure the provision of security to all those who face genuine security threats. The court further directed all provincial advocate generals to be present in court. “What’s the status of taking back security from unauthorised personnel?” he questioned. “Some people have issues with their security taken back. Even the media is raising concerns,” he said, adding that the court does not want to put anyone’s life in danger. “If Nawaz Sharif and Asfand Yar Wali are liable for security, then they must be given so according to the law,” the CJP directed. “Find out if Wali has security now, Nawaz has the security of a former prime minister, he should get security according to the law’s provision,” he added.

CJP orders heads of 56 public companies to draw salaries as per pay scales

The Supreme Court on Saturday ordered the heads of 56 public companies, which are being investigated over corruption, to draw salaries as per their pay scales.

A two-member bench of the apex court’s Lahore Registry headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar resumed suo motu hearing of alleged corruption in 56 public sector companies of Punjab. The chief justice remarked that the heads of the companies must draw salaries as per their respective civil servant roles, adding that the heads should return the amount which was more than their original pay scales.

“The companies were made to award relatives,” observed the CJP. “Billions of rupees were spent but there is not a single drop of water available for people. We won’t allow any person to use tax money,” he added.

Appearing before the court, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Director-General Saleem Shahzad said that the Punjab government didn’t cooperate with the bureau over records of companies, adding that 17 of the 56 companies have yet to submit their records. Responding to this, the CJP remarked, “Worry not, all the records will be provided to NAB. Let’s see how these companies don’t submit their records to the accountability bureau.”

The court then ordered the 17 companies to submit their record to the accountability bureau within three days. While referring to the chief secretary, the chief justice said, “Chief secretary sahab, if you were head of a company, your income would also have been in millions.” The chief justice also summoned a report over development in the case within a week.

Published in Daily Times, April 29^th 2018.