ISLAMABAD – Justice Shaukat Siddiqui of Islamabad High Court has sought thedetails regarding the expenses incurred on the renovation of officialresidences of all the superior court judges.
Justice Siddiqui has requested the Supreme Judicial Council through twoletters to order production of certain documents and information that hecould use in his defence, stating that it was not possible for him to gethold of the information sought on his own.
The information sought includes the total expenditure incurred during thelast seven years on the maintenance of each official accommodation of thejudges of the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and all the high courts.
Justice Siddiqui, who is all set to face an open court trial on Mondayregarding the expenses incurred on the refurbishing of his residence, hassaid the council should also summon records relating to the expensesincurred on the houses owned by the superior court judges but declared asofficial accommodation.
‘The list and particulars of those superior court judges should also beprovided who despite having official accommodations kept on receiving, orare still receiving, house rent allowance at a rate of Rs65,000 per month,’pleaded the judge who has been stirring controversy over a span of years.
Justice Siddiqui has also asked for the details of furniture and otherarticles provided in the official accommodations at state expense, besidesthe record regarding change of furniture and other household articles.
The IHC judge has also sought details of the alterations, modifications oradditions made on the orders of the superior court judges in the officialaccommodations occupied by them, Dawn News reported.
Justice Siddiqui, who recently revealed that the country’s premierintelligence agency was meddling in judicial affairs, said that necessarydirective to the Auditor General Pakistan Revenues, provincial accountantgenerals, Pakistan Works Department, CDA and the provincial communicationand works department should be issued for the provision of the requiredmaterial.
Justice Siddiqui has also asked for a notification regarding the retirementof Shahid Singha for whom the former was accused of directing good care ata private hospital because the CDA hospital lacked facilities needed forthe treatment.
The IHC judge has also asked for details of the inquiries and criminalproceedings initiated against Ali Anwar Gopang who is a senior CDA officialand had originated the reference against him. Justice Siddiqui has alsosought the status of inquiry into illegal appointments made by him,including his son Kashif Anwar Gopang.
The list of relatives of Mr Gopang has also been asked for by the applicantin addition to the judicial proceedings as well as contempt of courtproceedings against him.
Moreover, the applicant has also asked for the details of inquiries andcriminal proceedings made against a senior official of the CDA, GhulamSarwar Sindhu and judicial proceedings pending against him and observationsmade against his conduct by the IHC.
Justice Siddiqui has also asked for the service record and the manner inwhich Sarwar Sindhu got the post of CDA’s director general (planning). Hehas also asked for a comparative statement of construction at House No 2,Street No 60, F-7/4, Islamabad, where the judge currently lives, before andafter the allotment to the applicant.