ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has said if Atta-ul-Haq Qasmi is ready to voluntarily return Rs270 million he received as former chairman and managing director of Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), the case involving his illegal appointment can be withdrawn.
The CJP was heading a three-member bench which heard a suo motu case against the illegal appointment of famous playwright and columnist Atta-ul-Haq Qasmi.
“Since we are fighting against corruption thus why not send the case of illegal appointments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB),” the Chief Justice noted.
The court issued notices to former information minister Pervez Rashid, who was allegedly involved in the illegal appointment of Qasmi as the head of state-run television. The court also sought entire record, including summary and appointment orders, pertaining to the appointment of Qasmi as the PTV head. The attorney general declined to defend Qasmi’s appointment.
During the hearing, Qasmi’s counsel Ayesha Hamid submitted her objections on the audit report on the expenditures of PTV during the tenure of her client. She said the salary of former chairman was fixed by the PTV Board and that he did not commit anything wrong. She said her client withdrew Rs35. 86 million under the head of salary during his two years tenure.
In his remarks, the Chief Justice said PTV managed the Islamabad Club’s membership for Qamsi at Rs1.5 million. He said the appointment process of Qasmi was not in accordance with the prescribed rules. The Chief Justice noted that the amount spent on Qasmi by the PTV could also be recovered from former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, being responsible for his (Qasmi’s) illegal appointment.
He said if Qasmi returns Rs270 million, this amount will be allocated for water dams. “What will we gain by sending an 80-year old man to jail?” the Chief Justice said hinting towards Qasmi. The case is adjourned until Tuesday.
