Not easy giving up perks: Ex-LHC CJ refuses to vacate official residence
Says he will reside there while PML-N remains in office.
LAHORE:
Despite the lapse of permissible retention period following his retirement, former chief justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Khawaja Muhammad Sharif continues to reside at 3 Tollinton Lane GOR-1, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Following the directives of the Punjab government, the Lahore police withdrew 10 Elite Force personnel deployed for the security of the former chief justice along with the official vehicle that was provided to him during his service period. However, the services and general administration department (S&GAD) was reluctant to ask him to vacate the official residence, a senior official requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune.
According to the Policy Governing Allotment of Government Residences of 2009, “No retired/re-employed person shall be entitled to ... official accommodation beyond ... six months.”
Sharif was appointed Advocate-General Punjab in May 1997 and was elevated to additional judge of the LHC in May 1998. He became chief justice of the LHC on April 14, 2009 and retired from service after attaining superannuation at the age of 62 years on December 8 last year.
After his retirement, Sharif vacated his designated residence at 11-Akiman road, GOR-1 and occupied the 3-Tollinton Lane residence.
When Sharif retired from his service as LHC chief justice, the chief minster’s secretariat issued a directive to chief secretary Punjab, on the orders of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, to provide the former LHC chief justice with an official residence because he was facing assassination threats. The CM’s secretariat observed that since GOR-1 was the safest residential area, Sharif should be allotted a house there to avoid an untoward situation.
Punjab chief secretary Nasir Mehmood Khosa opposed the allotment which was overlooked by the chief minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 13th, 2011.
Despite the lapse of permissible retention period following his retirement, former chief justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Khawaja Muhammad Sharif continues to reside at 3 Tollinton Lane GOR-1, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Following the directives of the Punjab government, the Lahore police withdrew 10 Elite Force personnel deployed for the security of the former chief justice along with the official vehicle that was provided to him during his service period. However, the services and general administration department (S&GAD) was reluctant to ask him to vacate the official residence, a senior official requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune.
According to the Policy Governing Allotment of Government Residences of 2009, “No retired/re-employed person shall be entitled to ... official accommodation beyond ... six months.”
Sharif was appointed Advocate-General Punjab in May 1997 and was elevated to additional judge of the LHC in May 1998. He became chief justice of the LHC on April 14, 2009 and retired from service after attaining superannuation at the age of 62 years on December 8 last year.
After his retirement, Sharif vacated his designated residence at 11-Akiman road, GOR-1 and occupied the 3-Tollinton Lane residence.
When Sharif retired from his service as LHC chief justice, the chief minster’s secretariat issued a directive to chief secretary Punjab, on the orders of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, to provide the former LHC chief justice with an official residence because he was facing assassination threats. The CM’s secretariat observed that since GOR-1 was the safest residential area, Sharif should be allotted a house there to avoid an untoward situation.
Punjab chief secretary Nasir Mehmood Khosa opposed the allotment which was overlooked by the chief minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 13th, 2011.