The interior secretary could not satisfy the bench as to why and how the March 14 notification was issued in the first place. PHOTO: RASHID AJMERI/FILE
The Supreme Court on Thursday disposed of a suo moto notice about the extraordinary perks, privileges and security protocol reserved for ex-prime ministers and ex-federal interior ministers.
The five-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justices Ejaz Afzal Khan, Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Gulzar Ahmed and Sheikh Azmat Saeed, observed that no further action was required in the case after Interior Secretary Khawaja Siddique Akbar said that the notification had been withdrawn after being in force for only a few hours.
However, the secretary could not satisfy the bench as to why and how the March 14 notification was issued in the first place.
The bench asked who initiated the summary for the notification that provided ex-ministers with drivers, orderlies and personal assistants for life, besides giving them security protocol at all airports.
Responding to this, Akbar said that a special personal secretary to Rehman Malik had put up an official note.
“Javaid Iqbal Raja, the SPS to the ex-minister, said in his note that the minister desired some facilities, already being enjoyed by retired IGs and chief secretaries, for himself,” said Akbar.
At this point, Attorney General Irfan Qadir stepped in and said that because the notification was withdrawn, and no benefits offered after its issuance, court proceedings should be terminated.
Separately, Akbar said the notification about extra security arrangements for ex-premiers Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Yousaf Raza Gilani had never been issued, even though he, himself, has initiated the summary for this.
At this, the judges said there was no need for further action.
Meanwhile, Advocate Javaid Khan, appearing for the Sindh government, sought time to respond to the notice of the SC regarding the passing of laws that allowed different perks for former chief ministers, provincial assembly speakers and deputy speakers.
The bench adjourned the hearing for an indefinite time period, directing AG Qadir to assist the court at the next hearing.
Additionally, the hearing for another suo motu notice case, the one regarding the doling out of exorbitant discretionary funds by former premier Ashraf, was adjourned until Friday, at the request of Cabinet Division Secretary Nargis Sethi, who sought time to present the relevant records.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2013.
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So does this mean that the Judges dropped the court case because the perks were withdrawn? If so, why not just come out and say so in the first paragraph -- where's the Editor?