SC orders confiscation of unverified vehicles by Saturday evening

Record of cars being used by ministers, public employees has also been demanded from the federal government

LAHORE: The Supreme Court Lahore Registry on Saturday ordered that all unverified cars being used by ministers and public employees be confiscated by evening today.

A two-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, and comprising of Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the case of seizure of vehicles, being used beyond entitlement by politicians and government departments and expressed suspicion over the report gained from Balochistan.



A record of cars being used by ministers and public employees has also been demanded from the federal government by June 5 along with a formation of a commission to implement the court's verdict.

"100 per cent implementation should be ensured on the court's decision," the bench declared while asking the commission to produce the implementation report in two days.

The court also summoned Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) with a record of vehicles used by officials in the next hearing.

"I know that FBR, excise and custom officials use these smuggled cars," Justice Nisar told the court.

Additional attorney general also submitted a report regarding approval of former minister Zahid Hamid’s cars to the court.

According to 1980 rules, the prime minister has the right to give cars bigger than their due right, but CJP told the court that the PM did not approve these cars.

"Show me one document relating to the approval of cars signed by the PM. Former principal secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad approved them," he added.

When questioned in what capacity Abid Sher Ali was using a motorbike, the public prosecutor stated that he has returned the vehicle to the government.



"If cars will not be returned, they’ll have to come to court," the CJP added.

On May 31, the bench, hearing a suo motu case pertaining to officials using luxury vehicles, also disallowed use of government-owned bulletproof vehicles during elections and directed authorities to withdraw such vehicles being used by Law Minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah and other lawmakers.