Lahore March 3 (TNS): Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday sought a complete record of the salary and other privileges the former director general of the Lahore Development Authority Ahad Cheema was availing before he was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau on February 21 in the Ashiana Housing Scheme corruption scandal.
After Cheema’s arrest, Punjab bureaucrats staged a protest and the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution against the NAB terming it action un-called for.
Taking the suo moto notice on various public welfare issues, the chief justice heading a three-member bench at the Supreme Court Lahore Registry, made it clear that no bureaucrat should indulge in protest and those want to protest should resign and go home before taking to the streets. The chief justice also said that the NAB should not be obstructed in performing its duty and officers summoned by the anti-graft body should appear before it.
Justice Nisar also questioned the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly against the NAB stating tomorrow a motion could also be passed against the superior court.
During the hearing, the bench was told that Cheema was getting Rs0.1 million in monthly salary and Rs1.4 million as perks and privileges. The Punjab chief secretary assured the bench that no government official will resort to protest from now onwards. The bench was informed that Cheema was currently looking after the affairs of Quaid-e-Azam Power Plant as its head.
According to the NAB, Cheema allegedly received 32-kanal in bribe from owners of the Paragon Housing Society.
