Pakistan’s economy has collapsed. Pakistan’s politics is in the abyss. Last fortnight, an atmosphere of chaos was witnessed across the country after clashes broke out between the army and supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on the streets of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s central bank said last month that Pakistan is facing a severe economic crisis and is grappling with high foreign debt, weak currency and rising inflation. There has been a sharp decline in its foreign exchange reserves. Amid all these hassles, the attention of the people of Pakistan has come to the handsome salaries of the judges.
According to a news report, in March this year, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) ordered the Auditor General of Pakistan to audit the budget of the Supreme Court and submit a comprehensive report on the salaries, allowances and privileges allocated to Supreme Court judges and had given. According to the report, the PAC chairman, while issuing the direction, said that he did not even know how much the judges were drawn.
According to PAC data, the gross monthly salary of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan is more than Rs 15 lakh per month, excluding benefits and allowances. The salary of the Supreme Court of Pakistan judges is more than that of the President, Prime Minister, Ministers, Federal Secretaries and MPs. The Chief Justice of Pakistan ranks first among the highest-paid.
Other judges of the Supreme Court come second after the Chief Justice. In this case, the President of Pakistan comes in third place. The prime minister gets less salary than ministers and federal secretaries. News International gave this information by citing data submitted to the Public Accounts Committee.
Noor Khan, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, informed the members that the salary of the President of Pakistan is Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 896,550. At the same time, the Prime Minister of Pakistan gets a salary of Rs 201,574. The Chief Justice of Pakistan receives the highest amount of 1,527,399 Pakistani Rupees (4,41,113 Indian Rupees).
The salary of other Supreme Court judges is 1,470,711 Pakistani rupees. Federal ministers get a salary of 338,125 Pakistani rupees. A parliamentarian receives a salary of 188,000 Pakistani, while a grade-22 officer gets 591,475. The News International reported that the PAC had sought details about the perks and privileges enjoyed by the President of Pakistan, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of Pakistan and other Supreme Court judges.
The registrar of the Pakistan Supreme Court on Tuesday did not appear before the PAC to audit the expenses of the top court over 10 years. The committee has again summoned him for a meeting next Tuesday and warned of issuing warrants against him if he does not appear.
As per reports, the committee members have expressed their anger over the registrar’s absence. According to the report, Noor Khan said, “If the Principal Accounts Officer of the Supreme Court of Pakistan does not appear before the PAC, then why should other institutions be held accountable.”
