ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) today (Wednesday) has taken the notice of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to doll out Rs500 million grant to each member of National Assembly and provincial assemblies ahead of the Senate elections.
A two-judge apex court bench, comprised of Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Maqbool Baqar, summoned Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan in the court.
The bench pointed out paragraph 52 of the SC’s December 5, 2013 judgment, given during the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) tenure, regarding a premier’s discretion to allot funds.
Justice Isa quoted a newspaper report and asked, “Is the release of the development funds by the prime minister in accordance with the Constitution, law and legal precedent?
He also said if the release of funds was valid according to the Constitution and the law then the matter will be closed. However, he added, if it was in contravention of the law, then “action will be taken”.
Justice Isa issued notices to the advocate generals and the attorney general, seeking response from them in this regard. “The matter would be referred to the Chief Justice for formation of a bench in case it warranted the initiation of legal proceedings,” he added.
On January 28, the premier gave the nod for providing Rs500 million for each member of the national and provincial assemblies on account of development funds. The decision was made in a meeting of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s parliamentary party.
