ISLAMABAD: The Senate was informed Tuesday that a bullet proof vehicle to former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry has been provided by the government in pursuance of the verdict of Islamabad High Court.
Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Pervaiz Rasheed informed the House during Question Hour that Iftikhar Chaudhry was using a bullet proof Mercedes Benz No GD-0341 of Cabinet Division and Law and Justice division is bearing the expenditure on petrol and maintenance under IHC judgment of January 15, 2014.
He said an intra-court appeal (ICA) has been filed but despite applications of early hearing ICA is still pending.
The minister informed that since January 30, 2014 as much as 4689 liters of petrol has been issued to said car while a repair estimate of Rs 3,375,029 has been presented to law division for which funds through a special grant are required from the finance division.
During the course of questioning and replies, Chairman Senate Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari and couple of Senators expressed concerns on not receipt of pertinent information sought from the Supreme Court about perks and privileges of the retired Chief Justices.
The members questioned as to why a state institution was reluctant to provide information to the Parliament regarding the questions asked by the members. They also mentioned to article 90A, 5th schedule of the Constitution and article 205 and argued that seeking information was their constitutional right.
"We have not asked anything secret. The constitution allows us to know this information. Is Registrar Supreme Court not bound to provide relevant information to the House," asked Senator Saeed Ghani.
The Chairman Senate and Senators Zahid Khan and M Hamza also mentioned to deletion of a portion from a previous reply that the Registrar had not provided written information in response to the question asked by the members.
The Minister replied that what we could know verbally has been presented to the House as the Registrar Supreme Court had not replied to six letters written to him for a reply to the question.
Senator Zahid Khan questioned, "Was Supreme Court above the Parliament and could this parliament not know the information it had sought".
Senator M Hamza said, if this House reserves the right to know about the said information and it is ignored then is it not the breach of privilege.
On these questions, the Chair commented that we shall have to see the legal implications as this matter pertains to fundamental human rights that is also enforced by the courts.
"It is a legal and constitutional issue and if former Chief Justice was allowed certain facilities under a court order then did the government amend the relevant laws," the Chairman questioned. "Let the legal experts and Attorney General guide this house on the issue as he asked the government to inform the Attorney General about his observation".
On these questions by the members and comments of the Chair, the Law Minister said, "We should listen to the Attorney General and the legal experts. We would also like the observation of the Chair on this matter".
Earlier replying to the question about perks and privileges of retired Chief Justices, the minister informed the House that a Chief Justice of Supreme Court on his retirement is entitled to the minimum amount of the pension equal to 70 percent of salary determined by the President from time to time plus five percent for each completed year of service either as the Chief Justice or as the Judge not exceeding the minimum amount of pension equal to 85 percent of the said salary.
He further stated that a retired Chief Justice of Supreme Court is also entitled to a driver and an orderly; 3000 free local calls per month; 2000 units of electricity; 25 hm gas per month and free supply of water.
In terms of vehicles, he said, they are also entitled to 300 liter of petrol per month; purchase of official vehicle of 1800 cc at depreciated value while no income tax shall be payable in respect of benefits and perquisites to which a judge or a widow as the case may be, is entitled.
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