LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday observed that every citizen had the right to ask about the expenditures incurred on Prime Minister's House. Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan gave these remarks hearing a petition questioning acquisition of bullet proof cars and sniffer dogs for the official residence of the prime minister.
Advocate Feroze Shah Gilani of Lawyers Foundation for Justice moved the petition.
As the judge resumed hearing on Monday, a federal government counsel objected to the locus standi of the petitioner. He said the foundation of the petitioner was not a registered body and it had no right to question the PM house expenditures.
Justice Khan, however, observed that being a citizen of Pakistan the petitioner had the right to know the expenditures. The government's counsel sought time to file objections to the petition in writing. The judge allowed the request and adjourned hearing.
The petitioner stated that hefty amounts from public exchequer would be spent on the purchase of bulletproof cars and sniffer dogs for the PM's security. He sought a decree against the 'unconstitutional' spending.
Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2014