The Supreme Court, while seeking reply from the federal government on the Prime Minister’s Kissan Package subsidy case, on Thursday questioned under what law subsidy was given to fertiliser manufacturers.
When a two-judge bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal, took up the case for hearing, the petitioner informed the court that discriminatory treatment was meted out in offering subsidy on fertilisers.
Prosecutor Suleman Akram Raja took the plea that subsidy was applicable to those importing fertiliser.
Upon this, the other judge on the bench, Justice Qazi Faiz Essa, inquired how much amount had been released so far under the head of fertiliser subsidy. When the prosecutor replied that a sum of Rs 12.5 billion had been released, Justice Essa inquired under what law the amount was released. “Had any sanction been made in the last budget? Has any mention been made in the constitution about discretionary funds of the prime minister,” the judge asked.
After the interval, the court summoned the food secretary and finance secretary, and Justice Essa inquired how much amount had been given as subsidy.
The food secretary told the court that Rs 12.5 billion had been released.
When the judge remarked “was legislation not needed before releasing such a huge amount”, the food secretary told the court that subsidy amount was distributed among 12 manufacturers and importers.
The court, while seeking reply from the federal government as under what law the subsidy was given to manufacturers, put off the hearing for a week.