ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court today issued notices to the Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) governments in media advertisements case and sought their replies.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar also directed its office to deposit Rs 5.5 million cheque in the account of Government of Punjab, submitted by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president as fine in the case.
During the course of proceedings, Shahid Hamid counsel for Opposition Leader in NA, Shehbaz Sharif informed the bench that whatever his client did as chief minister of Punjab was in good faith.
There was no violation of any law, rule, regulations or guidelines and that all was done in good faith. The applicant never had any intention of benefiting either his person or party, Shahid contended.
He stated that the publication of advertisements bearing pictures of the prime minister, the president, chief minister, the governor and members of parliament had been a common practice in the country and no law, rule, regulation or guideline prohibited that practice.
He alleged that government of KP and Sindh also had same practice and pictures of the then chief ministers of the said provinces were also published along with advertisements. Subsequently, the bench while issuing a notice to both the provinces, directed them to submit their reply within ten days and adjourned further hearing till then.