LAHORE, May 31: A controversy among the office-bearers of the Lahore High Court Bar Association surfaced on Thursday when president Ahsan Bhoon during the general house meeting accused finance secretary Ruby Hayat Awan of not approving bills regarding the expenses incurred on the chief justice of Pakistan’s reception on May 5.

Mr Bhoon put a requisition before the house requesting to sanction the bills of Rs700,000 by giving their approval. He said the reception cost the bar Rs1.3 million out of which Rs1 million were paid by the LHCBA members voluntarily.

He said the LHCBA had to pay from its exchequer only Rs300,000 which had not been paid so far.

The president added that Ms Ruby Hayat was not approving the bills. The finance secretary was not present at the meeting at that time.

Former bar finance secretary Firdaus Imtiaz intercepted the president and shouted that there was no amount in bar accounts and how could the finance secretary sanction the amount. She supported Ms Hayat whom she called a woman of principles.

The lawyers stood divided over the issue and raised slogans for and against the president and the finance secretary.