Public-sector companies' case: Shahbaz appears before SC

After being summoned by the Supreme Court for clarification with regard to the appointments of government officers on high salaries, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif appeared before the apex court's Lahore registry.
A two-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Sunday resumed hearing of a suo motu case pertaining to high salary structure of government officers and alleged corruption in 56 public-sector companies in Punjab. The court summoned Shahbaz Sharif and he appeared within two hours after the orders of the court.
During the hearing earlier, the advocate general Punjab told the apex court that Shahbaz Sharif did not have any role in the companies. To this, Chief Justice Nisar remarked that no activity had taken place [in Punjab] without Shahbaz's consent.
During the hearing when the honourable court asked to explain how government officials were "hired on such high salaries", Shahbaz told the bench that it was not the first time such companies had been formed; in fact, such companies had existed before as well. He requested the court to allow him to submit his response in the case.
Chief Justice Saqib Nisar questioned under which law the officers were receiving salaries in millions. "What promise you made to the public have you fulfilled?" the CJP inquired. To this, Shahbaz responded that he had saved Rs 160 billion [of national exchequer]. If there was a penny less than this amount, he may be punished as deemed fit, he argued.
The court also ordered National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to estimate the wealth of chief executive officers of six companies. "Please investigate how many properties these officials own, so that the nation's money can be returned to it," the Chief Justice asserted.
On April 28, the Supreme Court had ordered the heads of 56 public companies, which are being investigated in a corruption probe, to draw salaries as per their pay scales. He had remarked that the heads of the companies must draw salaries as per their respective civil servant roles, adding that the heads should return the amount which was more than their original pay scale.
The court had earlier asked the chief secretary Punjab to come up with a detailed report on the salaries, perks and privileges being paid to the officers of 56 public-sector companies established by the Punjab government.