The Public Accounts Committee has ordered the Auditor General of Pakistan to audit the Supreme Court’s budget, as it sought a detailed report about the salaries, perks and privileges, and plots allotted to judges of the top court.
Issuing the directives, PAC chairman Noor Alam Khan directed AGP Muhammad Ajmal Gondal to submit the report by March 30.
Khan observed that the matter has already faced a delay; no further time could be allowed in this regard.
“We don’t even know how much salary the judges are drawing,” he observed said, reminding Gondal that the parliament's accountability forum was still for the report to be received.
He further told the AGP that the committee must know as to where and how much of the money is being spent from the exchequer.
Prior to issuing the deadline, PAC chairman observed that 'someone has to do it', “I'm starting this audit.”
The development comes at a time when an SC judge is facing a reference, filed against him in the SJC.
Read this too: Justice Isa Voluntarily Releases Assets, Privileges, Tax Details
Justice Mazahar Naqvi’s assets grew ‘astronomically’ after he was elevated to the country’s top court, revealed Mian Dawood, the petitioner of the reference.
The advocate had made the remarks while talking to journalist Asad Ali Toor, nearly a week ago.
According to him, the learned judge allegedly influenced the outcome of a hearing to acquire a specific property.
“The assets of the judge and his family grew by Rs3 billion ever since he was appointed to the Supreme Court,” Dawood had said, citing the documents available with him.
The petitioner had also sought an inquiry against the same judge over an alleged audio leak. In the clip, former chief minister Punjab Parvez Elahi could be allegedly discussing fixing a case with him for its hearing before a particular bench or judge.
Later, the former PML-Q leader claimed that the conversation was ‘with a lawyer’ and had been ‘twisted’.
Issuing the directives, PAC chairman Noor Alam Khan directed AGP Muhammad Ajmal Gondal to submit the report by March 30.
Khan observed that the matter has already faced a delay; no further time could be allowed in this regard.
“We don’t even know how much salary the judges are drawing,” he observed said, reminding Gondal that the parliament's accountability forum was still for the report to be received.
He further told the AGP that the committee must know as to where and how much of the money is being spent from the exchequer.
Prior to issuing the deadline, PAC chairman observed that 'someone has to do it', “I'm starting this audit.”
The development comes at a time when an SC judge is facing a reference, filed against him in the SJC.
Read this too: Justice Isa Voluntarily Releases Assets, Privileges, Tax Details
Justice Mazahar Naqvi’s assets grew ‘astronomically’ after he was elevated to the country’s top court, revealed Mian Dawood, the petitioner of the reference.
The advocate had made the remarks while talking to journalist Asad Ali Toor, nearly a week ago.
According to him, the learned judge allegedly influenced the outcome of a hearing to acquire a specific property.
“The assets of the judge and his family grew by Rs3 billion ever since he was appointed to the Supreme Court,” Dawood had said, citing the documents available with him.
The petitioner had also sought an inquiry against the same judge over an alleged audio leak. In the clip, former chief minister Punjab Parvez Elahi could be allegedly discussing fixing a case with him for its hearing before a particular bench or judge.
Later, the former PML-Q leader claimed that the conversation was ‘with a lawyer’ and had been ‘twisted’.