The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought by May 26 (today) a written reply from the federation over legality of Prime Minister's 'Kisan Package' notification. Heading a two-member bench, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan resumed the hearing of an appeal of federal government challenging Peshawar High Court verdict that had accepted the plea of a phosphate company, Agritech Limited, and others in a subsidy matter.
Responding to the court query during the course of hearing, Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali pleaded that executives are authorised to allocate money for a relief package under the constitutional provisions without Parliament's approval.
However, he submitted that the pronounced package could be approved from the Parliament at a later stage; to which Justice Qazi Isa Faiz plainly said that taxpayers' money could not be considered as a personal property of the government.
The bench repeatedly asked from the principal law officer that under which law notification of Prime Minister relief package for farmers was issued.
Later, issuing directives to the AGP for a written reply in the matter, the court adjourned the hearing of appeals for May 26 (today).