LAHORE – Punjab former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif told Chief JusticeMian Saqib Nisar on Sunday that ‘had dog bitten him as he was securingbillion worth of rupees in public company’.

A two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, heard suomotu case earlier today pertaining to the salary structure of governmentofficers and alleged corruption in 56 public-sector companies in Punjab.

Former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif appeared before the SupremeCourt’s Lahore registry, after being summoned by the Chief Justice ofPakistan in a case pertaining to corruption in 56 public sector companies.

During the hearing, the chief justice remarked that all money would betaken back from those officers which had been given benefits of millionsrupees. The chief justice asked from Shehbaz Sharif that why public-sectorofficials were paid Rs1 million when their salaries were Rs100,000.

While defending his position, Shehbaz asserted that he has made publiccompanies efficient enough to save extra money in national exchequer,adding that ‘had dog bitten him as he was securing billion worth of rupeesin public company’. To reply, the chief justice said that he does not knowwho bites you.

Using inappropriate remark before the court, the chief justice warned ex-CMover his indirect diatribe, on which Shehbaz offered an apology.

Shehbaz said that he has also saved a lot of money in other heads, sayingthat he saved Rs160 billion in different power projects. “The reason thiscourtroom is so cool is because of these power projects,” the former CMsaid. He also said that he has also saved Rs70 billion in water-relatedprojects.

The CJ said he was not asking him about those projects. Instead, he said,he was asking about the public-sector officials’ salaries alone. Shehbazreplied that the matter had nothing to do with him as the financedepartment had issued a notification regarding those salaries. He said thathe was not being given due credit for saving Rs160 billion.