SC bars Sindh govt from using pictures of political leaders in ads

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Saturday ordered the Sindh government not to publish any advertisements using pictures of political party leaders by using public money and in case of non-compliance the court will recover the amount used in such advertisements in both print and electronic media.

Hearing a suo moto case regarding government advertisements bearing pictures of political leaders for their projection by the Sindh government in both print and electronic media, the Supreme Court’s three member bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed that the political parties shall have to bear the expenses of such advertisements. The court observed that no one will be allowed to misuse the public money. The court observed that the chief minister Punjab was ordered to repay the Rs.5.5 million to the national exchequer for similar advertisements.

The Chief Justice inquired from the Advocate General Sindh, Zamir Ghumro and the information department details of all the expenses incurred on advertisement campaigns in print and electronic media using pictures of political party leaders by April 3.