LHC to take up Ayan Ali’s bail plea on 26th

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court (LHC) will take up model Ayan Ali’s bail application on June 26.

A decision on the matter might be delayed if the investigation officer does not turn up.

On June 19, Justice Abdul Sami had issued a notice to the investigation officer from the Customs Intelligence ordering him to file a report at the next hearing.

Ali has challenged money-laundering proceedings against her before a Special Customs Courts, Rawalpindi, and dismissal of her bail petition.

Advocate Khurram Latif Khosa told the court customs authorities had wrongfully held her in the case. He said the model had not received her boarding card and there was no exit stamp on her passport when she was arrested.

Khosa requested the court to stay proceedings against her before the customs court and grant her bail.

Customs officials had arrested Ali on March 14 from Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad and claimed to have recovered $506,800 from her luggage. She had wanted to go to Dubai.

Pensions

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of the LHC sought a report last week on the payment of arrears to elderly pensioners. The court also summoned two officials from the Finance Department to frame contempt of court charges against them for defying its orders.

The judge reprimanded Punjab Chief Finance Officer Rafique Ahmed and Lahore Finance Officer Muhammad Akhtar for being late and not sending on time a letter to district finance officers to resolve the matter.

They submitted an unconditional apology which the court rejected. The judge directed them to appear before the court on June 29 for framing of contempt charges against them.

The additional finance secretary submitted a notification stating that the pensioners would start receiving the restored pensions from July 1.

Advocate Safdar Shaheen Pirzada, counsel for the pensioners, said the government had defied court orders by delaying the matter for months.

He said it seemed that the government had money to construct bridges and roads but not to pay the pensioners.

Justice Shah remarked that the court could not stop the government from constructing bridges and roads but it would make sure that its orders were implemented.

In 2014, the Supreme Court (SC) had ordered provincial and federal governments restore the commuted pensions of elderly pensioners. Some pensioners in the Punjab had later requested the LHC to get the SC’s order implemented.

On December 20, 2014, Justice Shah had ordered the provincial government to submit a plan for the payment of pension dues. He had told the petitioners to approach the court in case they were not given a payment plan.

Appointment

The LHC dismissed a petition filed by 43 civil judges challenging a restriction on their candidacy to take exams for the posts of additional district and sessions judge.

Advocate Khurram Chughtai argued on behalf of the judges.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah observed that the court could not pass an order against it. He urged the lawyer to withdraw the petition. The court dismissed the petition for being not maintainable.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2015.