SC orders to remove leaders pictures from govt ads

F.P. Report

KARACHI: Supreme Court has ordered to remove pictures of political leaders from government advertisements by 3rd of next month.

Three-member bench of apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, while hearing a suo moto notice sought details of the government advertisements with pictures of political leaders. The Chief Justice ordered to refund government funds incurred on such practices and observed that in future no picture of any political leader be displayed in government advertisement .

“Information of all the signboards which feature pictures of politicians be presented in court. “Newspapers and televisions already run so many advertisements with pictures of politicians, there are even political figures in the government’s posters at polling stations,” Chief Justice Nisar said. The CJP then stated that whether images are of previous politicians or current ones, they will not be featured on governmental advertisements. “All such advertisements need to be removed and their cost value be returned to the national exchequer,” he ordered.

Meanwhile court set the deadline of April 4 to remove the images of all political personalities from government-owned signboards, panaflex, and said that henceforth, no politicians will be featured on such platforms. “National treasury won’t pay for their pictures to be displayed,” he added. The court ordered the chief secretary to present the process of execution by April 4, saying that all details of all advertisements and money be submitted under oath. Chief secretary replied saying that the report will be submitted by the deadline.