Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar Wednesday asked whether the top court should close its eyes and let the government do what it wants.

He made the remarks as the top court heard the suo motu case related to former Pakistan Television (PTV) chief Ata-ul-Haq Qasmi’s appointment as managing director (MD) as well as the amount of salary and perks he received both as chairman and MD of the state-run TV.

As the hearing went under way, Ayesha Hamid, counsel for Qasmi, contended that the PTV chairman’s appointment was the federal government’s prerogative.

When she objected to the top court’s intervention in the case, the chief justice remarked that since the matter pertains to a public appointment, the court may review it.

“Do you think we are fools,” the chief justice asked, noting that the age requirement for the post was relaxed in Qasmi’s case.

The top judge observed that the government ignored regulations when it used unfair means to appoint Qasmi, adding that there must be some rules regarding the government’s powers and its limits.

The court then directed Qasmi to appear in court in four hours, informing her counsel that the documents being submitted by her should be handed over by Qasmi himself.

However, Qasmi did not appear in court as ordered and his counsel then completed her arguments.

The hearing was later adjourned, with directives to the counsel of former information minister Senator Pervaiz Rasheed to begin arguments.

Moreover, the court summoned the former finance and information secretaries on July 9.

During a hearing of the case in February this year, the court was informed Qasmi was being defamed by reports that he had received a whopping Rs 270 million in remuneration.

The chief justice remarked that whosoever was responsible for the exorbitant pay package would have to pay out of his or her own pocket if any illegality was established. The court then summoned the five-year tax record of Qasmi.

Earlier, during the hearing, the chief justice observed that the government did not have the authority to make appointments on its own.

At an earlier hearing, the chief justice had expressed shock at Qasmi’s salary and payout when he left PTV in December last year.

Qasmi, a noted author and playwright, was appointed the chairman of PTV in 2015 but in April 2017, appointed himself the MD as well, sparking controversy.

The court was informed by the additional attorney general and information secretary that Qasmi had reportedly received a total of Rs278 million in salaries and advertising cuts during his two-year stint at the state TV channel.

Published in Daily Times, July 5^th 2018.