The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, has taken suo motu notice of the grant of extraordinary privileges to former Prime Ministers and Interior Ministers, as well as the passage by the Sindh Assembly in its last session of an act granting monetary benefits to outgoing chief ministers, speakers and deputy speakers. The Supreme Court has ordered issuance of notice to the Attorney General of Pakistan, and the federal interior and law secretaries, asking them to specify the competence under the Constitution of the Prime Minister’s order to extend lifetime benefits to himself as well as former and future prime ministers at the cost of the public exchequer. The interior ministry was also told to explain the legal basis of its notification extending security and protocol to the former interior ministers. These last-minute orders and legislation apparently occurred because the Prime Minister, the Interior Minister and the Sindh Chief Minister were reluctant to give up the privileges accruing to their positions once they lost them, their tenures having expired.
One of the things highlighted by the notice is the almost routine misuse of security details as providers of protocol. This actually leaves the subject of protection actually more unsafe than if he was to exercise a private citizen’s prudence, but that is seemingly a small price to pay for the ostentation practised at taxpayer’s expense. Another is the ability of the executive, as well as the legislative, to give itself privileges extending beyond their tenures, not to mention how large these perks and privileges loom for them. This would not go down well with the public at any time, but nowadays, with an emphasis on accountability never seen before, it is particularly inappropriate. The cavalier attitude of the political class has never been so harshly delineated, as in this attempt to claim lifelong privileges in return for a few years of presiding over crippling energy shortages, a shortsighted and unpopular foreign policy, and perilous law and order.
The federal as well as the Sindh representatives must get the fair hearing they deserve, and there must be no compromising the security of former officials, lest its lack lead to the right sort refusing to serve. At the same time, the excuse of security must not be used to engage in the sort of waste of taxpayers’ money that has been resented so strongly, and has led to a heightened scrutiny of candidates that has upset the same class that was so busy at the last minute granting itself the kind of privileges that obliged the Supreme Court to take notice. Whether or not the privileges survive the challenge to their constitutionality, they have been highlighted at the bar of public opinion just before it is due to express itself in a general election. If the Court does not take action, the people will.