SC refuses to vacate stay order on payments to media houses
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has refused to vacate its April 2 stay order regarding the disbursement of funds to advertising agents/media houses.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, has suggested that the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) wait for the formation of the new government for a decision on the release of their outstanding dues of billions of rupees, which was approved by the former prime minister after the expiry of his government.
The court also directed the deputy attorney general of Pakistan to provide particulars of summaries that had been approved by the former premier for the release of payments to advertising agents/media houses after March 16. The court questioned the approval of summaries by the former premier for the release of billions of rupees of outstanding dues of the advertising agents/media houses after March 16. It also questioned whether such type of grant to advertising agencies by the former prime minister after March 16 is permissible.
The court directed asked the attorney general of Pakistan to appear in the court on Wednesday (today) for assistance, as a huge amount of public exchequer was involved in this matter. The representative of APNS, Sarmad Ali, contended before the bench that their billions of rupees of outstanding amount were not being cleared for the last five years and they requested the former prime minister to release the payments.
Upon this, the chief justice asked him why did the former premier did not approve the summaries regarding the disbursement of media houses’ funds two years ago. He said let the new government come to power, as it would consider the matter related to the release of media houses’ funds according to the rules and regulations. Meanwhile, the representative of APNS said that AGPR was not releasing fresh payments to media houses after the court’s April 2 stay order. The court, however, refused to vacate the stay order and adjourned the case until today.
Source: Daily Times
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