ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday suspended a notification under which the ex-PPP government was entitled to lifetime security and other perks, DawnNews reported.

A five-member bench of the apex court, headed by chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, resumed the hearing of the case pertaining to security protocols and privileges for former premier Raja Pervez Ashraf and federal ministers.

Controller General Atif Usman duly said before the court that Rs.290 million were spent annually on security protocols for the PM and federal ministers, adding that provincial funds would be further used for security of the ex-premier.

The chief justice remarked that Interior Minister Rehman Malik would have to explain in court his reasons for entailing lifetime security.

He said that under Article 9 of the Constitution, it was the duty of the state to provide protection to all its citizens, but inquired under what law a notification on lifetime security was issued for an interior minister.

The bench ordered to suspend the notification which sanctioned benefits and privileges.

It also summoned the Home Secretary to personally appear in the court for the next hearing adjourned until tomorrow.