The salaries and allowances of the judges of the Supreme Court can't be made public under the the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017, according to court officials.
Geo News quoted one of the officials as saying that the apex court does not qualify as a "public body".
The news outlet reached out to SC registrar, seeking details of the salaries and allowances drawn by Chief Justice and other judges. The aforesaid information was sought under the Right of Access to Information Act.
It said that Khurram Shahzad, the assistant registrar administration of the court, responded on April 5, saying the request for information "cannot be entertained" as it falls outside the ambit of the Act.
The official, according to the report, went on to add that only the records held by a "public body" are accessible under the law.
"Although the definition of public body is very exhaustive in the Act 2017, yet the legislature in its wisdom didn't include this court within the fold of the said definition and excluded it from the purview of the Act," it quoted Shahzad as saying in the letter in response to the request for information.
He also stated that the letter, sent to the outlet, was issued with the approval of the Chief Justice.
The Right of Access to Information Act, 2017, sees a "public body" as government and state institutions and "any court, tribunal, commission or board under the federal law."
It was reported a week ago that a judge of Pakistan's top court allegedly earns more than Rs1.7 million a month, including benefits.
A social media user also gave a breakdown, in which he claimed to have included an Rs 800,000 salary, Rs 370,000 in housing rent, 600 liters of gasoline, two chauffeurs, two luxury cars, Rs 5,000 in daily travel expenses, and discounted airline tickets.
Geo News quoted one of the officials as saying that the apex court does not qualify as a "public body".
The news outlet reached out to SC registrar, seeking details of the salaries and allowances drawn by Chief Justice and other judges. The aforesaid information was sought under the Right of Access to Information Act.
It said that Khurram Shahzad, the assistant registrar administration of the court, responded on April 5, saying the request for information "cannot be entertained" as it falls outside the ambit of the Act.
The official, according to the report, went on to add that only the records held by a "public body" are accessible under the law.
"Although the definition of public body is very exhaustive in the Act 2017, yet the legislature in its wisdom didn't include this court within the fold of the said definition and excluded it from the purview of the Act," it quoted Shahzad as saying in the letter in response to the request for information.
He also stated that the letter, sent to the outlet, was issued with the approval of the Chief Justice.
The Right of Access to Information Act, 2017, sees a "public body" as government and state institutions and "any court, tribunal, commission or board under the federal law."
It was reported a week ago that a judge of Pakistan's top court allegedly earns more than Rs1.7 million a month, including benefits.
A social media user also gave a breakdown, in which he claimed to have included an Rs 800,000 salary, Rs 370,000 in housing rent, 600 liters of gasoline, two chauffeurs, two luxury cars, Rs 5,000 in daily travel expenses, and discounted airline tickets.