Why Punjab CM’s image in govt ads, asks CJP

LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar on Saturday questioned the media campaign of Punjab government’s ‘performance’ from the taxpayer’s money, terming it a pre-poll rigging. He directed the Punjab secretary information to immediately submit the complete record of distribution of advertisements to media houses.

The chief justice sought an explanation on why the chief minister’s picture was published by using public funds, observing that “this amounts to pre-poll rigging as the general elections are approaching fast”.

The secretary information was admonished by the court after he presented a vague report, as the chief justice got angry and asked him to return to go office and prepare a complete report immediately, mentioning therein the exact amount given to a particular media house.

The courtroom burst into laughter when the chief justice remarked that the information secretary might go on strike, instead of preparing and brining report.

Hearing the suo motu notice into the use of public funds on political campaign, the chief justice, addressing the chief secretary, asked about the whereabouts of chief minister.

The provincial secretary said Rs 180,000 per minute was the rate at which ads were aired on TV. The chief justice questioned the criteria of ads distribution and also asked who gives these orders.

Later, as the information secretary reappeared in court, the bench was informed that Rs 5.5 million was spent on advertisements on 12 TV channels in one day. On the court’s insistence, the official disclosed further that the advertisements carried the picture of the Punjab chief minister.