LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah has voluntarily made details of his family business and expenditures incurred on the treatment of his son public.

A letter written to the Punjab Information Commissioner by LHC registrar on behalf of the chief justice states despite the law does not bind the chief justice to disclose the information sought in an application filed before the information commission, Chief Justice Shah desired to release the information voluntarily in the public interest.

The letter says textile mills about which the information has been sought were sold long ago in 1988.

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It states Chief Justice Shah abandoned his directorship long ago before becoming judge of the high court. Neither he worked as director of any company nor was engaged in family business, it adds.

The registrar’s letter also rejects a claim that the chief justice took a loan for his mills or got it written off.

It states the CJ, being entitled to medical facility, asked the Punjab government for treatment of his youngest son abroad under the law when a medical board suggested his treatment abroad. The government sanctioned Rs6.4 million. Since the treatment cost Rs4.4 million, the rest of the amount of Rs2 million was duly deposited back with the exchequer.

The chief justice also placed information about his latest income tax returns on the LHC website.

A lawyer, Anwar Dar, had filed a petition before the Islamabad High Court alleging that LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah had got bank's loan written off. He asked the court to seek money trail from Justice Shah and details of his family business.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2017