Reply sought from federal government

The Lahore High Court on Monday sought reply from federal government and finance ministry by April 17 in response to a petition challenging powers of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to present supplementary budget. A citizen, Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi, contended in his petition that federal cabinet empowered the finance minister to present supplementary budget of Rs 100 million and appoint heads of government institutions. He pleaded that delegating powers of the cabinet to a minister was violation of a Supreme Court judgement. He therefore prayed the court to set aside the powers enjoyed by the minister for being in violation of the law.