Islamabad (Staff Report): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and opposition leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday submitted a cheque of Rs5.5 million.
He also requested the court to dispose of a case against him regarding hefty expenditure by the Punjab government on advertisements. The advertisement was issued in good faith and that he never had any intention of benefiting either his person or party, he added.
While hearing the case, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that Sharif in an exemplary move has submitted the cheque voluntarily and other leaders should also follow the same.
Earlier, the SC ordered Sharif to pay Rs 5.5 million back to the national exchequer for a newspaper advertisement on behalf of the Punjab government but carrying his picture.
A three-member bench of the SC, headed by the Chief Justice (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, heard the suo motu case regarding hefty spending on advertisements by provincial governments.
"Rs120m in one month amounts to Rs1.5 billion worth of advertisements in a year," Justice Nisar noted. The CJP then inquired about a particular ad put bearing the picture of Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The official responded that Rs 5.5 million was paid for the advertisement.
CJP remarked that the same amount of money would have brought a huge chunk of medicines. He further directed provincial chief minister to submit Rs 5.5 million to the national exchequer.
