CJ censures son-in-law, DIG over ‘undue favour’ attempt

LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan(CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took strong exception to a deputy inspector general’s attempt at securing an undue favour by appealing to his son-in-law in a child custody case.

DIG Ghulam Mahmood Dogar had approached his son-in-law for a favour. Coming to know about it, the CJP summoned the police officer at apex court’s Lahore Registry on Sunday and reprimanded him. He also sought appearance of his son-in-law to give an explanation regarding the DIG's attempt to seek an influence through him.

The country’s top judge was hearing a case, filed against DIG Dogar at the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry. His former wife, a Canadian national, had moved the apex court over placing her and her children’s names on the exit control list (ECL).

Reportedly, Dogar wanted his ex-wife and children’s name to remain on the no-fly list.

Expressing his displeasure, CJP Nisar questioned the DIG’s audacity to seek an undue favour through the chief justice’s son-in-law, Khalid Rehman.

"Who told you that you can seek undue favour from my family members,” the CJP questioned the police officer.

“How dare you approach my son-in-law to seek a favour from me? How dare you think that anyone can ask Chief Justice of Pakistan for an undue favour? I have waged a war (jihad) against injustices and, you are trying to earn favours using a source?”

A chastised Dogar tendered an unconditional apology to the top court; however, Justice Nisar refused to accept it. “I do not want your apology. Tell me who advised you to use personal connection?”

When Khalid appeared before the apex court, he too was censured for attempting to influence the judicial process.

“You are my son at home, but right now you are standing before the Chief Justice of Pakistan,” said the top judge as he inquired who asked Khalid to seek undue favours.

Khalid told the court that DIG Dogar, who is currently fighting a custody case of his children against his ex-wife, asked him for a favour.

“DIG Dogar wants the name of his former wife and children to stay on the Exit Control List (ECL)," the son-in-law informed the two-member bench.

Reiterating his apology, the DIG pleaded with the court to not remove his former wife and children’s names from the ECL.

Halting the court proceedings, Justice Nisar later ordered both the parties to see him in his chamber.

Canadian-national Mirjam Aberras Lahdeaho had contracted marriage with DIG Dogar on March 6, 1997, in Lahore and stayed in Pakistan for over 12 years, along with their three children, including a daughter, before they moved to Canada as permanent resident there in 2009.

The DIG used to visit his family in Canada frequently instead of opting for a permanent stay due to his job in Pakistan.

Finnish-origin Lahdeaho said in 2016 that Dogar made their two minor sons visit Pakistan from Canada on a short tour but never allowed them to go back on one pretext or the other.

She said her husband also obtained an ex parte order from a court regarding guardianship of the minors and that she had been fraudulently deprived of lawful custody of her children.

In February, a guardian court ordered the DIG to produce his two sons so that their interim custody could be given to their mother in the light of a Supreme Court order.

Lahdeaho had appealed to the apex court against the placement of her name and the names of her children on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Universities VCs

The country’s top judge on Sunday took suo motu notice of appointment process of vice-chancellors of 37 public sector universities in Punjab, with directives to the chief secretary to submit a report in this regard.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took the notice while hearing complaints of public interests and human rights at the Supreme Court Lahore Registry on Sunday.

“Why there is not a single policy for recruitment of VCs’ to the public sector universities of Punjab,” the CJ asked the Punjab’s principal officer Zahid Saeed. The court was packed with the complainants. A large number of the complainants could not find seat to wait for their turn due to heavy rush in the courtroom.

Punjab Advocate General Shakilur Rehman Khan pointed out that the candidates mostly show reluctance to go to the universities in under-developed areas. At this, the CJ observed that how it is assumed that nobody was willing to go to the marginalised areas.

NCA

The top judge also took suo motu notice of extension given to Dr Murtaza Jafree, the principal of National College of Arts (NCA).

Prof Rao Dilshad of the NCA had moved the court that Dr Murtaza Jafree had already completed his tenure as the college principal but he had again been given extension. He said he was overage and the law was being changed for giving him age relaxation. The CJ directed the government to submit detailed report on appointment of Dr Jafree.

PIC appointments

The CJP also took notice of appointment of professors to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) Lahore in violation of merit and directed Punjab Chief Secretary and PIC Chief Executive Officer Nadeem Hayat Malik to furnish detailed report.

Professor Abdul Waheed had filed the complaint, pleading that a number of professors had been appointed to the PIC in violation of merit. The complainant said the professors who deserved the post on merit were ignored in appointment process and many juniors were appointed on political ground.

He pleaded with the CJP to take notice of the alleged illegal appointments to the PIC.

PKLI

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar also took suo motu notice of hefty salaries being paid to doctors at Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI).

The CJP ordered PKLI to give details of all doctors and staff employed at the hospital along with records of their salaries.

The CJP also ordered the chief secretary to hand over a detailed staff structure of the hospital employees by evening.

He added that it had come to the court's attention that doctors were being hired at the institute for salaries as high as Rs1.5 million per month.

The CJP also demanded to know who the head of PKLI is?

The chief secretary, who was present in the court, said the bench that the head of PKLI, Dr Saeed Akhter, was out of country to perform Umrah.

In March this year, the KPLI had come under fire after comparisons were drawn between doctors who worked at government hospitals and those at the KPLI.

Hearing the case, the chief justice remarked that doctors at KPLI get a salary of Rs1.2 million while on the other hand, the ones working at a government hospital get Rs0.2 million.

Information commissioner

The court also held the suo motu hearing on vacant post of Chief Information Commission Punjab.

During the hearing, the apex court directed the Chief Secretary Punjab to make the appointment on merit.

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The chief justice restrained Punjab government from suing pictures/ads of Punjab CM Shehbaz for the advertisement of ‘Shehr-i-Khamoshan’ –the newly introduced graveyard project.

The CJP passed the order while hearing a multiple complains of public interest at the Supreme Court Lahore registry on the holiday. The top judge appointed a commission and directed it to submit report within 15 days.

Earlier, the court was informed that there was no graveyard in Shadiwal area on which the CJP observed: “It is very sad that people don’t have place to bury their loved ones.”

On it, the chief secretary said that land had been acquired for Shehr-i-Khamoshan project.

In a separate complaint, one Talha Barki, said to be the leader of PML-N, appeared before the court and informed the court that he heard the complaints of the people of his area. He had appeared to explain his position on a complaint against him.

A local citizen had approached the top court that he had been serving as advisor to the Punjab Chief Minister and used to hold open meetings for hearing of the peoples’ complaints.

Talha Barki said that he just heard the problems of his area’s people and nothing else. The CJP observed that it seemed as if he was performing the duties of Tauqir Shah.

Separately, the SC got a man arrested over charges of fraud and looting his fiancée. The CJP directed Federal Investigation Team to hold investigation into the matter within two weeks.

Zile Huma, a woman, appeared before the court pleading that her former fiancée Abu Waqas deprived her of Rs15 million. The woman cried that he, instead of returning the amount, had been threatening her of dire consequences.

The CJP expressed serious concerns over the complaint and ordered the police to arrest the man. The police, complying with the court order, arrested the alleged fraudulent.

Besides, the chief justice heard a large number of complainants and passed direction for redress of their grievances.