ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar has sought a reply from the law ministry in the case pertaining to the payment of Rs 50 million on account of a fee by the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) to lawyers.
The case pertaining to payment of Rs 50 million as fee to lawyers by EOBI came up for hearing before the bench of Supreme Court (SC) led by the chief justice on Wednesday.
Lawyer Babar Sattar took the plea in the court that EOBI hired services of lawyers under PEPRA rules. He informed the court that every lawyer received a fee to the tune of Rs 26,7000 while there were a total 42 cases. The CJP remarked that it will have to be seen who has accorded approval for payment of fee.
“Allegation is that services of specific lawyers were hired. A good lawyer should have not taken their case. Aitzaz sahib might have taken their case on some legal point. The services of those lawyers are hired in the morning with whom party runs at night,” he remarked.
Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan asked whether was there any letter available about hiring the services of private lawyers.
The CJP remarked, “Law secretary should tell what is the status of letter related to private lawyers.”
The SC sought reply on this count from law ministry.
Additional Attorney General (AAG) informed the court that the prime minister had accorded the approval which is a policy matter.
The court remarked, “Amount taken from the EOBI under the head of fee should be taken back, besides informing us the legal status of the alleged letter.”
