Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Friday said if Attaul Haq Qasmi is ready to voluntarily return Rs 270 million he received as former chairman and managing director of Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), the case involving his illegal appointment can be withdrawn.

The CJP was heading a three member bench hearing a suo motu case against the illegal appointment of famous playwright and columnist Attaul Haq Qasmi.

The court issued notices to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) former information minister Parvez Rasheed, who was allegedly involved in the illegal appointment of Qasmi as head of the state run television.

The court also summoned entire record, including summary and appointment orders, pertaining to the appointment of Qasmi as PTV head.

The chief justice expressed dismay over the replacement of former information secretary Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera in violation of the apex court orders.

The attorney general, however, assured the chief justice that he will take up the matter with the Election Commission of Pakistan later in the day. He also declined to defend the appointment of Qasmi.

During the hearing, Qasmi’s counsel Ayesha Hamid submitted her objections on the audit report on the expenditures of PTV during the tenure of her client.

She said the salary of former chairman was fixed by the PTV Board and that he did not commit anything wrong. She said her client withdrew Rs 35.86 million in the head of salary during his two year tenure.

In his remarks, the chief justice said the PTV managed the Islamabad Club’s membership for Qasmi at Rs 1.5 million. He said appointment process of Qasmi was not in accordance with the prescribed rules.

The chief justice noted that the amount spent on Qasmi by the PTV could also be recovered from former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, being responsible for his illegal appointment.

“Since we are fighting against corruption, thus why not send the case of illegal appointments to the National Accountability Bureau”, the chief justice noted.

He said if Qasmi returns Rs 270 million, this amount will be allocated for water dams. “What we have to gain by sending an 80-year-old man to jail,” the chief said hinting towards Qasmi. Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing until Tuesday.

Published in Daily Times, June 30^th 2018.