Local Government Secretary Summoned For Not Filing Reply Over Involvement Of Legislators In Public Companies
The Lahore High Court has expressed displeasure on the Secretary of the Local Government for not filing reply to a petition by the Opposition Leader in the Provincial Assembly questioning the involvement of legislators in public companies and summoned the bureaucrat on next hearing.
A provincial law officer said no reply was filed on behalf of the secretary and other respondents as Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi resumed hearing of Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed’s petition. At this the judge directed the Secretary to appear in person on April 25.
The Opposition Leader filed the petition through Advocate Sheraz Zaka and contended that at least 12 members of the Assembly had been holding different positions in public sector companies in violation of rules.
He said section 3(7) of Public Sector Companies Corporate Governance Rules 2013 stated that no person having a political or legislative role could become a director of a company governed under the said rules.
He said the respondents MPAs of PML-N were already Members of Assembly and at the same time functioning as Directors of the companies like Lahore Waste Management Company, Lahore Transport Company, Lahore Parking Company, Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company and Punjab Saaf Pani Company.
He asked the court to order the government to strictly implement the Public Sector Companies Corporate Governance Rules of 2013, which did not allow any legislator to work as director of any public sector company.
This news was previously published in DAWN and it is being republished here with permission.
