109 advisers ‘running’ Punjab govt

Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial was told on Monday that 109 political assistants, advisers, special assistants and coordinators were working in Punjab. The chief justice had ordered the provincial government to tell the court that under which law and rules these assistants and others were appointed by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The chief justice had also sought explanation from the government that under what law these assistants could interfere in the administrative affairs of the government. As court resumed hearing on Monday, Punjab additional advocate general submitted a list mentioning the appointment of 109 assistants for the government and the chief minister. He added that most of these assistants were working without salary for the government. Petitioner lawyer Rana Mehtab, however, reiterated that only five political assistants could be appointed according to the law, but the chief minister had appointed 109 which had become burden on provincial kitty. He said the court had already declared such appointments as illegal and unlawful. He said these assistants were using government offices and vehicles causing financial loss to the national exchequer. He requested the court to decide the matter at the earliest because the petition was of important nature and pending for the seven months. The petitioner had submitted that the government in a bid accommodate its blue eyed workers had appointed them as assistants against hefty amounts and benefits. 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 prayed the court 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 November 15.