RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday questioned why former Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has been given a bulletproof car.

“Under which law was Shahbaz Sharif given a bulletproof car?” the CJP asked while heading a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court hearing a suo motu case against the misuse of luxury vehicles by federal and provincial ministers and government officers beyond their entitlement.

When the chief secretary Punjab told the court that Shahbaz was given a bulletproof car as he faces security threats, Chief Justice Nisar remarked: “Tell us, where it says that a bulletpproof car should be given to those facing security threats.”

Chief Justice Nisar further criticized the installation of checkpoints outside Shahbaz’s Model Town residence. “Checkpoints have been installed in the space meant for a children park,” the CJP said.

To this, the Punjab chief secretary informed the court, “the space for the park is now being used for parking.”

“Checkpoints have been removed from outside Shahbaz’s residence,” the Punjab chief secretary added. To this, the CJP called for a video to be presented to him showing the outside of the former Punjab chief minister’s residence.

Additional Attorney General Nayyar Abbas Rizvi presented a report regarding the luxury vehicles being used by members of the federal cabinet and departments of the federation to the court after dissolution of National Assembly last month.

He informed the court that a total of 56 cars were in use by ministers in Balochistan, of which 49 have been recovered. To this, the bench directed that the remaining seven former Balochistan ministers should also return the official cars by Tuesday night.

“If they do not return the cars by tonight (Tuesday night), they will be fined Rs100,000 for a week and the penalty will be doubled after a week if they do not return the official vehicles,” the CJP added.

The additional attorney general said a total of 105 luxury vehicles were in the use of the federal government and the cabinet of which only three are left to be recovered.

The CJP questioned as to how many bulletproof cars were in the use of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari.

In response, lawyer Farooq H Naik told the three-judge bench, “They have their personal cars.”

Chief Justice Nisar observed that the court would not allow the use of official bulletproof vehicles in the upcoming election campaign.

Separately, the CJP paid a surprise visit to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Tuesday where he observed the facilities being provided to the patients.

During his visit, the CJP said to the staff that the hospital is performing better by the grace of Allah and the hard work of the staff.

While responding to a question about the government and its performance, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar said that he is not a political person and he makes comments on such issues on in court.

During his visit, the CJP declared a woman reporter as his focal person, asking her to apprise him of all the developments.

The CJP also listened to the staff members and their concerns during his visit to the hospital.