LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Friday directed the Punjab chief secretary to come up with a viable plan for the recovery of huge salaries received by heads of public-sector companies operating in the province.

The chief justice was hearing a suo motu case regarding appointment of Rashid Mahmood Langrial as chief executive officer (CEO) of Haveli Bahadur Shah power plant.

“The court wants to know the eligibility and criteria for your appointment,” the chief justice asked Mr Langrial pointblank. Mr Langrial said he had worked as secretary agriculture before his appointment at the power project.

To another query, he said he had been previously receiving around Rs126,000 monthly salary and was getting Rs800,000 as head of the Haveli Bahadur Shah power plant. He said he had received around Rs24 million so far under the head of salary being CEO.

“When are you returning this money to the national exchequer?” CJP Nisar asked Mr Langrial and observed that recovery would be made from CEOs of all the companies.

Mr Langrial stated that the project was a success as 107 million units had been produced so far. He said the amount of his received salary should be recovered from the government instead of him. However, the chief justice told the CEO that the money would be recovered from him.

The chief justice directed the secretary to come up with a formula for the recovery of the salaries drawn by the companies’ heads and adjourned hearing till Saturday (today).

In another case, the Supreme Court suspended Commissioner of Overseas Commission Punjab Afzal Bhatti after the NAB submitted a report about misappropriation in purchase of heart-valve at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC). Mr Bhatti was member of the PIC board of management and the chief justice had taken a suo motu notice of his appointment as commissioner of overseas commission.

Fareeha Majeed, a pharmacist who had previously been working at the PIC, had complained about alleged corruption in the purchase section of the hospital.

HOSPITAL VISIT: The chief justice of Pakistan visited the Lahore General Hospital and examined the facilities being given to patients.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Chief Secretary Zahid Saeed, health secretary Najam Shah and CCPO Amin Wains also joined the chief justice.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2018