PM’s foreign tours: LHC threatens to fine federal government
Justice Shah directed the govt to submit a record detailing the expenses incurred on PM Nawaz's New York visit.
LAHORE:
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday directed the federal government once again to submit a record detailing the expenses incurred on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s New York visit.
Judge Shah said also threatened to fine the government if a reply was not submitted at the next hearing. The counsel for the government told the judge that the prime minister’s protocol officer had not submitted the record. Judge Shah asked him whether protocol officers were running the country. Judge Shah also remarked that it was surprising that no one seemed to know about the expenses. The judge told him that he would fine the government if a reply was not filed at the next hearing.
Judge Shah had asked the government’s counsel to inform the court about a law that restricted official expenses abroad in the previous hearing. The counsel was unable to inform the court about the law.
Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafri had filed the petition against the Prime Minister’s foreign tours. The petitioner had claimed that the prime minister was using these visits to exploit business opportunities.
He had alleged that the Prime Minister had been put up at a New York Hotel for Rs800,000. Jafri had also requested the court to place the names of the prime minister and his family on the Exit Control List and stop them from squandering public money.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2014.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday directed the federal government once again to submit a record detailing the expenses incurred on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s New York visit.
Judge Shah said also threatened to fine the government if a reply was not submitted at the next hearing. The counsel for the government told the judge that the prime minister’s protocol officer had not submitted the record. Judge Shah asked him whether protocol officers were running the country. Judge Shah also remarked that it was surprising that no one seemed to know about the expenses. The judge told him that he would fine the government if a reply was not filed at the next hearing.
Judge Shah had asked the government’s counsel to inform the court about a law that restricted official expenses abroad in the previous hearing. The counsel was unable to inform the court about the law.
Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafri had filed the petition against the Prime Minister’s foreign tours. The petitioner had claimed that the prime minister was using these visits to exploit business opportunities.
He had alleged that the Prime Minister had been put up at a New York Hotel for Rs800,000. Jafri had also requested the court to place the names of the prime minister and his family on the Exit Control List and stop them from squandering public money.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2014.