ISLAMABAD: Informa­tion Minister Pervaiz Rashid informed Senate on Thursday that the Chief Justice of Pakistan was drawing a monthly salary of Rs591,651.

The other judges of the Supreme Court were getting Rs558,907 a month. All the judges of the court were also getting a judicial allowance of Rs259,009.

The minister said the judges were given official residences maintained by the government, complete with provision of electricity, gas and water, and free medical facility for them and their families.

Interestingly, they also get Rs68,000 as house rent and medical allowance of 15 per cent of their salaries as on June 6, 2011, when they used to get a salary of Rs368,186 per month.

They get two chauffeur-driven cars, one each at their principal seats and the provincial headquarters, along with 600 litres of petrol each month.

While on tour on official business, they are entitled to Rs5,000 per diem as travelling and daily allowance.

The minister was answering a question put by PPP Senator Saeed Ghani, who had sought information about the chief justices who had retired since 1985, along with details of their pension, allowances and other fringe benefits, such as servants, official accommodation, plots, vehicles and utility bills allowable to them, and the facilities actually provided to them.

Because the answer given by the minister was not deemed adequate, the question was deferred with instructions to the concerned ministry for provision of the information sought.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2014