People have right to know use of secret funds: Supreme Court
ISLAMABAD: The justification for creation of secret funds should be made clear and it’s the right of the masses, under Article 19 of the Constitution, to know where the money being taken out of their pockets is being spent. Judicial review can be carried out on not telling the reasons for secret funds.
Supreme Court judge Justice Jawad S Khawaja made these remarks during the hearing of a constitutional petition filed by senior journalists Hamid Mir and Absar Alam on the formation of media commission here on Tuesday. The two-member commission was hearing the case.
The apex court served a notice on an ad company, directing it to submit a reply on receiving Rs135 million illegally and describe the procedure for its selection on behalf of various departments and ministries.The court also asked what procedure the ad company did adopt for issuing ads in the media and whether Pemra rules were observed in this regard.
Hamid Mir told the court that the media was controlled by secret funds and some journalists were benefiting from it, bringing disrepute to the entire community. He said secret funds were not only found in the Information Ministry, Intelligence Bureau and Ministry of Information Technology, but also in 27 other departments.
” 
” 
” 
” 
