Broadsheet panel chief turns down pay, perks

Federal cabinet to take up 16-point agenda in today’s meeting

ISLAMABAD:

Justice (retd) Sheikh Azmat Saeed, the head of an inquiry commission to investigate the Broadsheet issue, has informed the government that he did not desire any salary or perks for his work as the commission head.

The matter of the salary for the former Supreme Court judge is part of the agenda of the federal cabinet meeting, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday (today). The government proposes pay and perks of Justice (retd) Azmat equal to that of a Supreme Court judge.

According to a Cabinet Division’s summary sent to the federal cabinet, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, permission has been sought from ministers to give Justice (retd) Azmat the same salary and benefits as a judge of the apex court draws.

The summary said that the commissions formed earlier were headed by on-service officers so there was no issue of salaries. According to the rules, on the appointment of a retired judge or officer, their previous salary is paid. The same rules apply to other members appointed by the commission.

A letter written by the inquiry commission’s registrar to the cabinet and law secretaries said that Justice (retd) Sheikh Azmat was told that he would get salary equal to that of a Supreme Court judge.

In the letter, a copy of which has also been sent to the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, the registrar said that the former apex court justice did not seek any salary or benefits from the government for the commission’s inquiry.

Meanwhile, the cabinet will take up a 16-point agenda in its meeting, including the appointment of the managing director of the National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC). In this regard, the energy ministry has proposed the name of Aizaz Ahmed.

The summary also included the names of Mujahid Pervez Chatha and Mujahid Islam for the post.

Previously, the cabinet had directed the NTDC board of directors to conduct interviews of candidates.

The board has also nominated Aizaz Ahmed for the post.

The ministers are expected to approve the donation to the Saarc Covid Emergency Fund, the SBP Amendment Bill and the draft of the Pakistan Institute of Education Bill, and ratify the decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE).

The meeting is also expected to approve the decisions of the Cabinet Committee on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), issuance of new licences to the overseas appliance promoters, and the appointments of member finance to the Nepra Appellate Tribunal.

Also on the cabinet agenda are the appointment of the members of the board of governors under the

Federal MTI Ordinance, and the appointment of deputy director general of the PSQCA, besides a briefing on the Islamabad Metro Bus project.

The minister will discuss a summary for changes in the retirement clause for Nadeem Anjum. The cabinet will also consider the opinion of the federal government on a writ petition of Salman Idrees in the Lahore High Court (LHC).