The Supreme Court has asked the Ministry of Information for a legal explanation to keep some of its funds clandestine from public eye.
A two-member bench under the supervision of Justice Jawwad S Khwaja heard the case regarding use of secret funds by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The court also allowed Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) and All Pakistan News Paper Society (APNS) to file applications in the court for abolishing the stay order, issued to prevent payments of billion rupees to media houses, on account of official advertisements.
Justice Jawwad said it was an important matter and should be decided without further delay.
“It is an issue of usage of public money and it remains to be understood why this amount is kept secret from the people. What is the real story behind the use of this fund as Information Ministry does not want to publicise it?”
During the proceedings, senior journalist Hamid Mir told the court about the utilisation of secret funds and asked the court that the report submitted by the ministry might be made public.
Justice Jawwad said there might be several reasons to maintain the secret accounts and the court would give verdict after reviewing the entire record.
“The ministry has told the court that Rs 84.75 million were allocated for the purpose of special publicity fund, but the court wants documentary proof.”
The lawyer for the ministry said it was the policy of the government.
“Different think tanks are working, similarly the ministry hires various column writers. An audit of the funds is being carried out.”
Senior journalist Absar Alam told the court that the ministry should correct its record, as secret funds were not only Rs 84.75 million, but it was a matter of usage of Rs 850 million and Rs 870 million separately.
