| CJ Athar says advertisement doesn’t contain any material which could be treated as self aggrandizement of PM

ISLAMABAD   -  The Islamabad High Court Monday turned down a petition moved by a PTI leader against the misuse of the public funds on the advertisement of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s visit to Turkey.

A single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah conducted hearing of the petition filed by PTI leader Ali Nawaz Awan through his counsel Advocate Babar Awan under Article 199 of the Constitution and dismissed the same after hearing the arguments.

The IHC stated in its written order that the expression “Zindabad” in the advertisement is obviously an expression of approval and further strengthening of the strong ties between the two sovereign States.

“There is nothing in the advertisements, which may indicate that its publication was intended as self-aggrandizement of the Prime Minister of Pakistan,” observed the IHC Chief Justice.

Dr Babar Awan, the counsel for the petitioner, argued that it is illegal to use public funds by the government for self-aggrandizement of public office holders and he also drew the attention of the court towards a verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The IHC bench also mentioned the the General Financial Rules of the Federal Government Volumes I and II which is a compilation of the orders and instructions issued from time to time, has prescribed principles, guidelines and rules relating to financial propriety while making expense out of public funds and the exchequer.  Justice Athar said that the Court has carefully perused the copies of advertisements published in the daily newspapers before the official visit of the Prime Minister to Turkiye.

“The advertisement is regarding the special relationship between Pakistan and Turkiye. The photograph of the President of Turkiye has also been printed. The advertisement does not contain any material which could be treated as self aggrandizement of the Prime Minister,” said the judge. However, he added that the publication of the advertisement could have been avoided because the enviable ties between the people of Pakistan and Turkiye are so special and strong that they do not require such approval or encouragement.

He added, “Nonetheless, it is not a case of self aggrandizement, rather, tribute to the special relationship between the two countries. Even otherwise, by entertaining the petition, the Court would be unjustifiably making the advertisement controversial, which solely acknowledges the special relationship of Pakistan with Turkiye.”