*ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has served notices to finance minister IshaqDar and two secretaries on account of approving salary, perks andprivileges of former chairman of the state-run Pakistan TelevisionAta-ul-Haq Qasmi.*
The apex court has issued notices to then federal information secretaryMuhammad Azam and then finance secretary Waqar Masood directing them toappear in person on July 9.
The order further directed that summons to Ishaq Dar be issued and affixedat his permanent residence in Lahore as he is reportedly gone abroad.
On Thursday, former information minister Pervaiz Rashid appeared in theSupreme Court, and stated that the appointment of Qasmi as chairman PTValong with his salary and privileges were in accordance to law.
Chief Justice Saqib Nisar asked on what basis Attaullah enjoyed the perksof his job fin personal capacity. Ishaq Dar and the two secretaries weresummoned and noticed were issued on Friday.
Attorney General informed the court that prior to Attaullah’s appointment,there were four chairmen of PTV and none of them including Pervaiz Rashiddidn’t take any privilege. “Attaullah Qasmi was hired as Managing Director,not even as chairman, yet he enjoyed all privileges,” he noted.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ordered Qasmi to appear before the courtwithin four hours, as his counsel argued that federal government has theprerogative to hire chairman PTV, but the courts don’t have thejurisdiction to evaluate it.