The court has now directed superintendent police to arrest the AG and present him, handcuffed. PHOTO: FILE
Gilgit-Baltistan’s (G-B) Supreme Appellate Court issued arrest warrants for the regional chief of Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) on Saturday in a contempt of court case.
Justice Raja Jalaluddin and Justice Muzaffar Ali of G-B’s apex court issued the orders against Accountant General (AG) Mutahir Shah after he failed to show up during the contempt case proceedings.
Based on an application filed be former judge Altaf Hussain, the apex court had issued contempt notices against Mutahir Shah and Deputy Accountant General (DAG) Jangi Banadur for discontinuing pensions and other privileges of some retired judges in G-B.
“The court had summoned him but he did not appear,” said a spokesman at the court. “The court has now directed superintendent police to arrest the AG and present him, handcuffed, on Monday.
The DAG, who was at court, tendered an unconditional apology and was pardoned.
The AGPR had discontinued judges’ benefits since sometime, referring to the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s (SCP) order that entitled regular pension only to judges whose service tenure is five years or more. However, G-B’s appellate court ruled the SCP’s decision does not apply to G-B and retired judges were entitled to benefits.
Under the G-B Empowerment and Self-governance Order 2009, judges of the superior judiciary are hired on contract for a maximum of three years with a salary and other monetary benefits equivalent to the judges of Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2013.
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