Shahbaz Sharif's assistants not allowed to use kitty’

The Lahore High Court on Wednesday remarked that the illegal usage of Punjab’s exchequer by the political assistants of Chief Minister could not be allowed. Justice Umar Ata Bandial directed the Additional Advocate General Punjab Ahmad Rauf to submit a detail about appointment of dozens of political assistants of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and under what law the assistants were using the government offices and pick and drop facilities. During the course of hearing, Provincial Law Officer Ahmad Rauf told the court that the assistants had been appointed by the CM by using executive orders, and they were using the government offices following the executive orders. However, no salary was being paid to the political assistance in the light of executive order, Raud assured the court. Petitioner lawyer Rana Mehtab opposed the contentions of the law officer and contended that only five political assistants could be appointed according to the law, but the CM had appointed dozens of them which had become burden on provincial kitty. The court recorded the arguments of both sides and sought detailed report and reply regarding the law that allowed the political assistants to use government offices in the light of an executive order. Rana Mehtab had challenged the appointments of political assistants of CM. The petitioner submitted that the government in a bid accommodate its blue eyed workers had appointed them as assistants against hefty amounts and benefits. He said they were unnecessary burden on the national exchequer. Due to financial crunch, it had become hard to run the provincial matters and the government had further burdened the exchequer to accommodate its political workers. He requested to declare illegal the all appointments of unnecessary assistants and sought direction for the government not to make such appointments in future. The court would resume hearing on June 26.