CJP orders arrest of PTI MPA-elect

Punjab govt briefs court on CEOs salaries; SC suspends woman vice-chancellor

LAHORE : Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Sunday ordered  to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA-elect Malik Nadeem Abbas for allegedly torturing police officers and holding them hostage.

The CJP took suo motu notice of the incident of alleged torture of Hanjarwal Station House Officer (SHO) Rana Afzal and his driver, Mumtaz, at the guesthouse (dera) of PTI’s PP-161 MPA-elect Abbas, who surrendered before the Green Town Superintendent Police (SP) after the apex court order.

The Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Syed Kaleem Imam told the apex court that a first information report (FIR) had been filed against the MPA-elect and his supporters for torturing police officials.

The chief justice directed the police chief to add terrorism charges to the FIR. He also directed the Interior Ministry to put the MPA-elect's name on the exit control list (ECL). Justice Nisar remarked that “those who do not know how to respect the law will not be spared”.

The CJP also took notice of ill-treatment of a returning officer in Sargodha. He sought report from the police chief and ordered action against those responsible.

On a complaint of aerial firing and fireworks, police officials raided the guesthouse of PTI’s MPA-elect a few days back where Abbas and his supporters allegedly thrashed SHO Afzal and Mumtaz and held them hostage.

Afterward a heavy police contingent reached the spot and rescued police officials who were still in hospital.

Market-based salaries

In a separate hearing of suo motu case regarding salary structure of the public sector companies’ heads, the interim Punjab government told the apex court that all civil servants working as heads or officials of the 56 public sector companies are ready to return market-based salaries they had been receiving over and above their regular salaries.

Punjab Chief Secretary Akbar Khan Durrani told the three-judge bench of the apex court that the chief executives officers (CEOs) of the companies required two days to return the salaries.



Responding to a court query, Durrani revealed that the Punjab Saaf Pani Company (PSPC) CEO Capt (retd) Muhammad Usman had been drawing Rs1.3 million monthly salary at which the CJP indicated that even his own salary was less than Rs1.3 million.

Nisar observed that “the returned salaries of the companies’ heads would be deposited to the fund established for construction of dams in the country”.

He remarked that misuse of public money cannot be allowed. Public hospitals were lacking basic facilities and medicines but officers were enjoying luxuries, he lamented.

The chief secretary also told the court that a list of 346 government officers working in Punjab government’s companies and authorities had been furnished to the accountability watchdog.

The top judge had summoned the CEOs of all the companies and also sought a list of the officers drawing salaries over Rs300,000 per month from public sector companies.

The establishment division secretary also submitted a detailed report about officers of federal and Punjab governments posted in public companies on deputation.



The chief justice expressed dismay over not being provided details and salary structure of the other three provinces and directed the secretary to submit the same.

Appointment of Vice Chancellors

The Supreme Court disposed of the case pertaining to the appointment of vice-chancellors (VCs) at public sector medical universities in the province.

A law officer told the apex court that the VCs had been appointed at the remaining two medical varsities.

Prof Dr Javed Akram and Prof Dr Mustafa Kamal had been appointed as VCs of the University of Health Sciences and the Nishter Medical University, Multan, respectively.

He indicated that the vacancies of the VCs at medical universities had been filled.

Lahore College for Women University

CJP Nisar suspended Dr Uzma Qureshi as Vice-Chancellor of Lahore College for Women University (LCWU).

The SCP had ordered inquiry regarding the appointment of Dr Qureshi as VC of the university. Inquiry committee’s head Prof Dr Amjad Saqib filed a sealed report to the CJP.

The CJP read the report and observed that it had been established that the appointment of Dr Qureshi was against the rules.

Appearing before the court, in her defence Dr Qureshi told the court that former interior minister had no role in her appointment as VC.

The CJP said the report was not in your favour. “We are aware of Ahsan Iqbal’s role in your appointment”, he said and directed Dr Qureshi to file her response to the report.

The court also summoned report regarding Allama Iqbal Open University’s dean who recommended the appointment of Dr Qureshi. The court directed the university to appoint a new vice chancellor in 30 days.