Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Legal and constitutional experts have said that the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) stance on Panama leaks is very clear as it is against corrupt elements rather than any political party on this issue

Linking the grant extended by the chief minister Punjab to the SCBA with the Panama leaks issue is wrong. The chief minister provided the grant on the request of lawyers for the Trust Fund (TF) through which pension will be given to elderly lawyers.

Talking to Daily Times on Monday Additional Secretary SCBA Muhammad Aslam Ghumman said SCBA had set up the Trust Fund out of which pension is given to the elderly lawyers. The SCBA was giving pensions of Rs 10,000 per month to its members.

In order to increase pension in the face of inflation, a request was made to the chief minister Punjab for a grant which was provided by him.

This grant has been extended only for the welfare of the legal fraternity and not for some other purpose. In this context,the SCBA office bearers met the chief minister and during the meeting important matters including the Panama leaks were also discussed.

He said that the SCBA made it clear during the meeting “We stand and will stand by our stance that we are not opposed to any party but we are opposed to corruption.

Mir Aurangzeb advocate said the funds provided by the chief minister cannot be linked to the Panama leaks and the provincial governments had extended financial assistance to the SCBA in the past as well. The Punjab government has generously provided a grant for construction of a hostel for the SCBA.

Former vice president of Islamabad bar and advocate Supreme Court Nazir Ahmad Bhutta said funds granted by the chief minister were not an act of kindness but were the right of the SCBA.