ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday took suo motu notice of the use of public money for advertisement of uplift schemes by the provincial governments.
The chief justice observed that the advertisement of development projects and the governments’ achievements was tantamount to pre-poll rigging.
He questioned why the provincial governments were using the national kitty for such purpose.
Advertisements, which portrayed political leaders and are aimed at self-promotion, were being given at the expense of public money, he noted.
CJP Nisar asked the provincial authorities to come up with an explanation for using taxpayers’ money for the purpose. If they liked self-promotion, they should use party funds, he added.
He observed the millions of rupees spent on advertisements should have been given to hospitals to improve healthcare.
The chief justice directed the information secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to submit details of advertisements awarded by the provincial governments to media houses.
The case will come up for initial hearing on March 12. A three-judge bench headed by CJP Nisar would take up the matter.
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