Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with the players of the Pakistan Cricket team. PHOTO: INP
Addressing at the event, the PM said it is the cricket team members who are the real heroes of the nation – and not the people like him.
He said he was thrilled at the performance of the national team in the Champions Trophy and had watched the whole match against India which Pakistan won by 180 runs.
PM’s cash reward announcement for Pakistan cricket team challenged
Earlier, the team was warmly received by ministers Marriyum Aurangzeb, Abid Sher Ali, Ahsan Iqbal, Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Muhammad Asif and others, and introduced to the PM.
IHC notice to PM House
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a notice to the PM House and sought comments over a petition filed by a lawyer challenging the PM’s announcement of Rs10 million for each member of the Pakistan cricket team for winning the ICC Champions Trophy.
While admitting the petition for regular hearing, Justice Aamer Farooq issued a notice to PM’s Principal Secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad with directions to submit his comments.
On July 3, advocate Tariq Asad had challenged a Rs215 million cash reward announced by the PM for the triumphant cricket team.
Subsequently, Justice Farooq directed Deputy Attorney General Raja Khalid Mehmood to apprise the court that under which law and to what extent the PM could give cash reward to the cricket team and pronounce grants following a tragedy or a disaster.
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In his arguments, the DAG said that Articles 78 to 87 of the Constitution were related to the budget, grants, supplementary grants allowing the PM to announce cash rewards among other grants. The funds allocated for the PM Office could also be utilised in such situations, he added.
In addition, the DAG said that general financial rules also allowed the executive authority to use discretionary funds to an extent which could reasonably be justifiable. He argued before the court about the provisions of law in response to the petition challenging the decision.
The petitioner stated that as per the notification of June 21, as many as 15 players of the cricket team would receive Rs10 million each while 13 members of the team management – already receiving monthly salary as regular employees – would pocket Rs5 million each.
In the petition, Asad maintained that the team won the trophy for which they all deserved tribute, but distribution of public funds in an extravagant manner “is neither in the public interest nor in accordance with the law”.
Champions return to hero’s welcome
Referring to the recent oil tanker explosion in Ahmedpur East, Bahawalpur, where over 200 people lost their lives, the petitioner said it would not be out of place to mention that “there is no burns section in any nearby hospital”.
He lamented that the demand of the people to establish burns wards in local hospitals was turned down by the PM “with remarks that it is very expensive”, adding that people needed health and education facilities, instead of the government wasting money in an extravagant way.
“Such a huge amount may be utilised for public welfare,” said the petitioner, adding that if the money had to be spent on sports then the best way was to give these funds to the 16 regions at the grassroots level where players could not even buy essential accessories to play the game.
Requesting the court to set aside the June 21 order, the petitioner argued that the funds might be utilised to provide basic amenities of life to common people.
(With additional input by Rizwan Shehzad)
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