In clear violation of the constitution, the Punjab government has released Rs 7.835 million for the installation of electricity generators at the residences of five Supreme Court judges in Lahore, sources told Pakistan Today on Thursday. A letter available with Pakistan Today reveals that the Punjab Finance Department has released the funds under the head of supplementary grant on special instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Communication and Works (C&W) Secretary Azam Salman has been assigned to complete the task of installing the generators at the residences of SC judges.
The generators would be installed at the residences of eight Supreme Court judges, who fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government and the provincial government has nothing to do with it but even then funds were released from the exchequer of Punjab.
“According to the constitution, Presidential Order determines the perks and privileges of SC judges and provincial government has nothing to do with it,” said a senior officer of the Punjab Finance Department, adding that the million dollar question was why the Punjab government was so keen on facilitating the SC judges.
The list available with Pakistan Today reveals that the generators would be installed at the residence of Justice Tassaduq Hussain Gillani at 8-Tollinton Road GOR-I, Justice Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry at 4-Tollinton Road GOR-I, Justice Jawad S Khawaja at 24-E-1 Gulberg III, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar at 79-A New Garden Town and Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa at 59-D-1 Sir Syed Road Gulberg III.
Punjab Finance Secretary Tariq Bajwa abstained from commenting on the issue despite the fact that his signatures were on the letter of releasing funds. “You should contact Implementation and Coordination (I&C) Secretary Mubasher Raza about this issue,” Bajwa added. Raza was not available for comments. Punjab government spokesman Pervez Rasheed confirmed that funds had been released for installing generators at the residences of the SC judges. “The SC has requested the Punjab government for maintaining residences of judges falling under Punjab province,” he added. When reminded that it was a clear violation of the constitution, Rasheed said the previous Punjab government had “practice of renovating and looking after the house of SC judges”.