Justice Chaudhry availed more benefits than others, Senate told

Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid on Tuesday informed the Senate that except former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, no other chief justice or judge had availed the benefits over and above those allowed under the law or rules.
During the question hour, in a written answer to a question asked by PPPP Senator Farhatullah Babar, he said that, however, former Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was provided a 6000cc bulletproof Mercedes Benz (GB-0341) by the Cabinet Division with the approval of the Prime Minister for a period of three months from the date of his retirement ie December 12, 2013. "This division has borne expenditure of oil, repair and maintenance of the vehicle on the directions of Islamabad High Court on a writ petition by Sheikh Ahsanuddin Advocate and others," he maintained.
He noted that the Federation of Pakistan had filed intra-court appeal in Islamabad High Court against the order of the court on January 01, 2014. The division bench in its order of May 11, 2016 allowed ICA and set aside the impugned order and the matter was remanded back for decision afresh after considering the legal and factual aspects.
The minister continued that the single bench of Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui passed order on December 02, 2016 for procuring the vehicle before the court. Against the order, Sheikh Ahsanuddin filed ICA. The division bench of Islamabad High Court vide order dated December 06, 2016 suspended the operation of impugned order. The case was fixed for hearing on February 27, 2017 and the judgement had been reserved. Another CMA in writ petition had been filed by Sheikh Ahsan against the Federation of Pakistan and the case was fixed for hearing on March 07 and adjourned on March 24 and the entire case was sub judice.
The minister confirmed that the Prime Minister had approved a 2400cc car for former chief justices but the details were yet to be finalized in this connection. He clarified the vehicle would not be bulletproof. Senator Babar wondered if the perks and privileges and pension being paid to the former justices were also available to officers of any other department. The minister said this was not in his knowledge. Gross pension admissible to chief justice of Supreme Court is Rs 896,635 while it is Rs 821,069 for a Supreme Court judge. Similarly, gross pension admissible to chief justice of high courts is Rs 759,964 and it is Rs 668,760 for high court judges.