CJP seeks reply from PKLI, Punjab govt

Orders LDA to auction 22 plots; directs all provincial jail authorities to get terminally ill prisoners examined

LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has sought a reply from the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) and the Punjab government after a forensic audit report revealed misappropriation of public money at the institute.

The chief justice passed the order while taking a suo motu notice regarding poor performance and deteriorating condition of the PKLI at the Supreme Court’s Lahore registry.

The CJP regretted that a huge amount of Rs100 million was being paid in the form of salaries and Rs2 million was going to the chief of the institute every month.

“Time will never come back and also these people and nobody will be held accountable,” CJP Nisar remarked.



PKLI President Dr Saeed Akhtar was also present.

Addressing Dr Akhtar, the CJP asked him that for what the court had sought an apology. “Stop campaigning on social media,” the top judge ordered.

“Everything is in the knowledge of the court. Strict action will be taken if the campaigning is not stopped,” the CJP warned.

During the hearing, the PKLI counsel requested the court to stop media coverage of the court proceedings but the CJP turned down his request and made it clear that media coverage was according to the facts.

“You will give up your position if you come to know on which media what campaign is being run by your client,” the CJP told the counsel. The bench sought replies from PKLI and Punjab government and adjourned the hearing until August 21.

CJP orders LDA to auction 22 plots

Moreover, the chief justice ordered the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to auction its 22 plots currently occupied by various owners of petrol pumps.

The CJP passed the order while hearing a suo motu case regarding the LDA land given earlier to the occupants/owners of petrol pumps at the Supreme Court Lahore registry.

The CJP further made it clear that it should be against the reserved prices.

CJP Nisar observed that if the people who had been running their businesses on the authority’s land accept the new terms and conditions then they could be given the land through a transparent bidding process.

LDA DG Amina Imran Khan appeared before the court.

The CJP directed the DG to submit a report regarding the terms of references of the auction by Saturday (today) and hold the auction within 15 days. The court also directed the LDA to submit a report about the auction before the court for its approval.

Earlier, Civil Society President Abdullah Malik had filed a complaint, saying that 22 LDA plots had been given to various people at throwaway prices to run their businesses. He pleaded the court for investigation into the matter.

Terminally ill prisoners

In a separate case, the top court has directed all provincial jail authorities to register terminally ill prisoners and to get them examined by the medical boards.

The CJP also ordered the authorities to release terminally ill prisoners if they were found sick by the medical boards.



A law officer informed the court that three terminally ill prisoners in jails of Punjab had been released while two out of three such prisoners lost their lives in jails of Sindh.

The top court directed the governments to make rules for the terminally ill prisoners and adjourned the hearing to be fixed by the office.

Marriage case

Furthermore, CJP Nisar summoned former provincial law minister Basharat Raja on a complaint by former Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid MPA Seemal Kamran, who claimed to be his wife.

Seemal personally appeared before the court with her complaint that she married Raja four years ago with consent and their families also took part in the wedding ceremony.  She said Raja compelled her to leave the house and also grabbed her property and valuables.

She also pleaded the court that she had been receiving serious threats from Raja. At this, the CJP directed the former law minister to appear in person next week.