ISLAMABAD (SPECIAL REPORT )
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed Attorney General Office to seek comprehensive report pertaining to process of all developments on the issue 3G licenses from Ministry of Information Technology. While issuing notice to the Secretary (IT) in the matter the Chief Justice observed that awarding the 3G license would generate substantial a revenue to the national exchequer and no delay would be permitted.
A three-judge bench led by chief justice iftikhar Muhammad chaudhry comprising J Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Sh. Azmat Saeed also issued notices to Secretary Cabinet and Finance in a case regarding alleged delay in awarding 3G license. During course of proceeding, Ali Raza counsel for the petitioner informed the be after SC’s clear directions which were given eight months before to IT to submit within ten days, no response had yet been given by the department.
He further told the court that Ministry of Finance had withdrawn 44 billion rupe universal services funds through an executive order. On which Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked that how could government withdraw funds from universal services funds as it had no perorgative. He also informed the court that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) was with out chairman and members of the board for almost eight months.Over the bench directed the Federation to complete formation of the board and it chairman as soon as possible. Ali Raza informed the bench that PTA employees are facing financial crisis as they had not been paid by the department for the last couple of months Justice Jawwad S Khawaja showed disappointment over vacant posts of high officials in PTA and remarked that no one seemed interested in the department. The CJ remarked that transparency must be observed in bidding of 3G license othe it would be deferred by the court. While issuing notices to secretary information technology, cabinet and finance, court adjourned further hearing till august 1.